Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)

January 25, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules. 

Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.

She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.

Check it out:

"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"

Today in the MHSAA: 10/26/20

October 26, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor 

The first round of the Boys Soccer Tournament concluded over the weekend with first-time District champions in Muskegon Oakridge and Clinton, while the Okemos girls were among those who outraced their ranking in cross country.

1. Boys Soccer: Muskegon Oakridge won its first District title in boys soccer, downing Howard City Tri County in a Division 3 championship game – Local Sports Journal

2. Boys Soccer: Clinton also won its first District soccer championship, downing Grass Lake in Division 3 – Adrian Daily Telegram

3. Boys Soccer: No. 2 (MPR) Traverse City West finished a season sweep of No. 8 Central with a Division 1 District title win – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Cross Country: The Okemos girls – honorable mentions in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – and No. 11 Brighton boys won Pre-Regionals at Huron Meadows – Livingston Daily 

5. Boys Soccer: Kalamazoo Christian halted No. 15 (MPR) Hackett Catholic Prep’s District title streak at nine with a 2-1 win in Division 4 – JoeInsider.com 

6. Cross Country: Ann Arbor Pioneer swept Division 1 Pre-Regional races; the Pioneers girls are ranked No. 4 and the boys are No. 5  We Love Ann Arbor

7. Volleyball: Dexter swept Ypsilanti Lincoln, Chelsea and Tecumseh to finish a perfect run through the Southeastern Conference White – Chelsea Sun Times News

8. Boys Soccer: No. 14 (MPR) Leland finished a previously-postponed Division 4 District Final with a 2-0 win over No. 13 Maple City Glen Lake – Traverse City Record-Eagle 

9. Volleyball: Sault Ste. Marie won three matches to finish a Straits Area Conference championship run – MI Sports Now 

10 Boys Soccer: No. 4 (MPR) Petoskey shut out Cadillac 3-0 to finish a Division 2 District title run – Petoskey News-Review