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: 9/21/20

September 22, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A matchup of ranked tennis powers highlighted a weekend that saw some of the best in multiple sports face off in a variety of multi-team events across the state.

1. Boys Tennis: Chelsea – ranked No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – edged No. 10 Allegan by five points to win the latter’s invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News

2. Cross Country: Hart, Traverse City Central and White Cloud swept races at the Ludington Invitational; both Hart teams and the Traverse City Central girls are ranked No. 1 in their respective divisions (3 and 1), and the Central boys are No. 8 – Athletic.net/Ludington Daily News/Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Holland West Ottawa defeated rival Holland 115-66; both are honorable mentions in their respective divisions (1 and 2) – Holland Sentinel

4. Boys Soccer: Battle Creek Lakeview won the All-City title with a shootout win over Harper Creek – Battle Creek Enquirer

5. Volleyball: Cheboygan went 2-1 at the Charlevoix quad, including handing the first loss of this season to the host Red Rayders – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

6. Cross Country: LPD1 No. 6 Romeo and a standout Macomb Dakota freshman set the pace for the Macomb Area Conference Red girls jamboree – Macomb Daily

7. Boys Soccer: Traverse City Christian shut out Tawas, Cheboygan and Alpena by a combined 14-0 score to win Alpena’s Huron Shores Tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. Cross Country: Bay City John Glenn’s boys edged Gladwin’s in a tie-breaker to win the Sanford Meridian Invitational – Bay City Times

9. Volleyball: Cadillac won five straight matches after falling to Lake Odessa Lakewood to open its super quad – Cadillac News

10. Volleyball: Montague improved to 12-1 this fall with three more wins – Local Sports Journal