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: 10/23/20

October 23, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A District championship game with statewide ramifications leads off today’s list of Thursday’s headliners, all of whom celebrated a title at some level.

1. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked (MPR) Holland defeated No. 2 Holland Christian 1-0 in a Division 2 District Final – Holland Sentinel

2. Boys Soccer: Dowagiac clinched its fourth-straight District title with a 1-0 overtime win over No. 6 (MPR) South Haven in Division 3 – Niles Daily Star

3. Boys Soccer: No. 3 (MPR) Richland Gull Lake clinched a Division 2 District title as well with a 1-0 win over No. 13 Plainwell – WWMT

4. Boys Soccer: No. 15 (MPR) Chelsea claimed its first District title in this sport since 2005 with a 1-0 win over Parma Western in Division 2 – Chelsea Sun Times News

5. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked (MPR) Detroit Catholic Central also won a fourth-straight District title, downing North Farmington in Division 1 – Observer & Eccentric

6. Boys Soccer: No. 8 (MPR) Frankenmuth avenged a regular-season loss with a 2-1 Division 3 District Final win over Flint Powers Catholic – Saginaw News

7. Boys Soccer: No. 9 (MPR) Saline moved on in Division 1 with a 2-0 win over Ann Arbor Skyline – Saline Post

8. Boys Soccer: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood downed Detroit Country Day 3-1 in a Division 2 District Final – Oakland Press

9. Volleyball: Oscoda repeated as North Star League Big Dipper champion with a sweep of Whittemore-Prescott – WBKB

10. Cross Country: The Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart girls – No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – and LPD4 No. 5 Carson City-Crystal boys clinched Mid-State Activities Conference championships – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun