The Official View: Congrats & Transitions
By
Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
December 3, 2018
By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
Winter is upon us at the MHSAA, and as we switch up seasons we salute the many who contributed to fall’s championship events and preview changes on the way for the MHSAA Officials Program.
It’s Official!
Transitions: As we transition from the fall to winter sports seasons, it is fitting that we discuss some expected changes in the MHSAA Officials Program. Proposals are being developed and sent to the Representative Council to resolve a number of issues – and additional changes are expected over the coming year. The goal of these changes is to provide MHSAA member schools with the most competent and qualified officials to choose from for regular-season contests, to improve sportsmanship amongst staff, students and spectators; and to increase the compensation and benefits that come with being registered as an official with the MHSAA.
To ensure that our member schools have access to the best and brightest officials, new education and accountability standards are being put in place. Also included will be cost-effective options for training – recognizing and featuring quality camps/clinics around the state and the development of a formal mentorship program.
Improving sportsmanship continues to be a priority of the MHSAA and the Officials Program. This cannot be addressed solely by the schools and the Association. The officials are the first line of defense in ensuring good sportsmanship. We are developing a “Personal Attack” policy that will assist and support officials in the implementation of corrective decision-making when necessary. Additionally, we are developing an “Official Thanks” campaign that recognizes and shows appreciation for the officials of MHSAA contests. The Game Day Ambassador Program is another initiative designed to put a face with the names of the officials for our schools and to provide schools with resources that explain what minimal efforts can be made to improve the officials’ experience.
Finally, benefits and compensation are being reviewed, and increases are due. We are evaluating the best way to increase compensation for postseason tournaments and what other benefits of registration would provide value to MHSAA officials. If you have ideas for incentives or additions you think would be beneficial to our officials, please let me know at [email protected].
Postseason Tournament Consideration: Winter Rules Meetings and Rules Tests for tournament consideration are due by Dec. 13, 2018. Make certain to complete all of these requirements, along with the submission of your schedules, to ensure you are eligible to officiate this postseason.
‘Official View’ Submissions: Winter officials – we need more submitted photos and stories showing all sides of officiating. If you have pictures of you and your fellow officials that can offer an inside look into the officiating world, please send them to [email protected]. We need a picture (or two) and the who, what, when and where. The more interesting the photo/story, the better.
We also continue to request “Official of the Month” nominations. If you have someone you think represents the MHSAA and the Officials Program well (and is a Winter sport official), send the official’s information and a brief note letting us know why you are making the recommendation.
Thank You: Thank you to all of the officials who responded to questions regarding proposed changes in the registration benefits and format. The information was very useful for us in determining what is in the best interests of all MHSAA-registered officials in regards to security, education, training and value.
For those who didn’t receive a request for feedback, don’t worry. No decisions have been finalized, and we will be sure to keep you posted of changes moving forward.
Rule of the Week
BASKETBALL With three seconds remaining on the clock and the game tied, A1 is attempting a throw-in from B’s end line. As A1 holds the ball over the plane of the end line, B1 quickly grabs the ball from A1 and lays it into the basket as time expires.
Ruling: Two points for Team B. The basket counts, and the game is over.
It’s Your Call
WRESTLING This week’s clip shows a wrestler secure a single-leg trap. Then, as it appears he has an easy opportunity to trip the other leg for a takedown, he picks up his opponent and slams him to the mat. What’s the call?
Last IYC Ruling: The last “It’s Your Call” clip showed a backrow player in volleyball land in front of the attack line following a successful jump attack from behind the line. Because the player’s feet leapt from a position established behind the attack line, this attack is a legal back row attack. (Click to see video.)
Official View: Congratulations!
We want to take a quick moment to recognize and thank the officials assigned to our fall postseason tournament Finals. We received very good feedback about the quality and consistency of officiating during our entire postseason. Your efforts are appreciated, and we understand that without your commitment and sacrifices, we could not host such tremendous events for our member schools and student-athletes.
Here are the Finals officials assigned for each fall sport:
Cross Country: Nick Marshall, Pete Norman, Lynn Kettlehut, Myles Cleverly, Dar Devereaux, Theo Nash, Doug Kelly, Erika Rafkin, Dan Bentschneider, Eldon Dean, Jim Davoe, Ray Drysdale, Jim Cleverly, Paul Matson, Lew Clingman, Rudy Godfriodt, Kathy Hutfilz, Brian Macomber, Wayne McDonald, Kathy Schollar, Ozzie Hashley, Geri Jackson, Lou Miramonti, Bertha Smiley, Dan Johnson, Dennis Whitehead, Kim Spalsbury, Autumn Cleverly, Greg Bishop, John Goebel, Chuck Janke, Marty Lynn, Tate Tatro, Rich Vitale, Jim Loria, Michael Raffin, John Brown, Marty Crane, Becky Norman
8-Player Football: Brad Austin, Joel Barnes, Paul Binder, John Carideo, Anthony Immel, Jack Miles, Joel Mitrzyk, David Paananen, Mark Pieniozek, Joseph Strong.
11-Player Football: Trent Anderson, Kurt Ballien, Robert Barrett, Ron Blevins II, Paul Boehms, Luther Bradley, Edgard Cazal, Lakelvert Cosby, Gillie David, Christopher Dickerson, Todd Dunlap, Donta Favors, Denny Ferguson, Jeffery Flynn, Timothy Frosch, Nicholas Gayan, Darin Gilbert Sr., Todd Gooding, Allen Hebden, Kevin Hughes, Steven Johnson, Darin Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Robert King, Carl Knoop, Patrick Lane, Adam Leyton, Mario Marana, Scott Maurer, Allen Noles, Brent Novak, Justin Paluch, Dee Jay Paquette, Steve Pearce, Bradley Peet Sr., Charles Phillipson, David Radke, Daniel Renner, Lawrence Roberts, Wally Rose, Jeff Rowley, John Schweihofer, Terry Scrivener, Brian Smith, Shane Smith, Randy Straub, Kevin Sullivan, Thomas Sumner, Johnnie Tanner, Nathan Taylor, Jason Towe, Chad Vanderstelt, Eric VanHevel, Max Warriner, Gregory Waun, Thomas Wolford.
Volleyball: Augusto Dumlao, Lawrence Freeman, John Martin, Penny McDonald, Matthew Preston, Luke Reynolds, Lawrence Ross, Todd Stamm.
Boys Soccer: Bradley Barlog, Branden Bennett, Carter Brochu, Conlan Campbell, Justin Cartwright, Thomas Coatoam, James DeBrabander, Bruce Falberg, Ashley Fromson, Richard Gilbert, Andrew Hoard, Pietro Loria, Alexander Plum, Timothy Reed, Robert Scudder, Andrey Vinarov.
Girls Swimming & Diving: Susan Barthold, Dennis Betts, Steven Bredeweg, John Cast, Paul Chaffee, James Chapman, Raymond Cranston, Timothy Eastman, Brian Foust, Jerry Kelley, John Leidlein Jr., Raymond Martin, James McPartlin, Steven Smale, Brad Susterka, Maynard Timm, Michael Torrey, Larry Wegener.
Thankful for Lifesavers Who Rushed to His Aid, Sanders Aims to Officiate Again
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
January 14, 2025
Doug Sanders sat quietly thinking about how to best describe what he went through the day after Thanksgiving at Monroe Jefferson High School.
Finally, he just said it.
“Basically, I died twice,” he said, almost apologetically.
Sanders, 56, was officiating a boys varsity basketball game between Petersburg-Summerfield and Jefferson when he collapsed. First responders who were in attendance quickly got to Sanders and began performing life-saving procedures.
Responders performed chest compressions. Twice they used a defibrillator to shock him. He regained consciousness once only to inform the responders they were hurting his chest, then his heart stopped again.
When he left Jefferson that night on a stretcher, he was alert.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in my 24 years coaching,” Summerfield coach Phil Schiffler said. “I’ve seen gruesome things, compound fractures and things, but never someone pass like that, especially someone who was an official, in charge of the game.
“Thank God for the first responders there that night.”
Petersburg residents Matt LaRocca and Aaron Myshock were the first to assist Sanders on the court. Others helped as well, including Summerfield athletic director Kelly Kalb, former Summerfield athlete Brendan Dafoe, a nurse; and Angela Prush, who works at Monroe County Community College as a clinical educator in the respiratory therapy program. Jefferson athletic director Alyssa Eppler helped on the scene as well.
“There was no hesitation,” Kalb said. “As soon as Doug went down, Matt and Aaron took off to the court and got to Doug. Everyone played a role. It was a great collaboration."
Kalb said the MHSAA this year implemented a new policy requiring schools to have an Emergency Action Plan in the event of this very type of emergency. That plan, she said, definitely helped both schools as they responded.
“We lost him a couple of times,” she said. “It was scary.”
Sanders knew something was wrong during the game. Moments before falling to the floor he called over one of his officiating partners, Steve Rechsteiner, and said something was wrong. He asked him to get him some water and said he felt light-headed.
“I said, ‘Help me,’” Sanders said. Moments later, he went to the floor.
As responders attended to Sanders, officials from both schools cleared the gymnasium of spectators and players, and the game was called. Players and fans left the gymnasium that night unsure of the events that had just unfolded in front of them.
“It’s amazing how it all happened,” said Sanders, who has been a registered MHSAA official for more than 30 years. “If I would have been driving or anywhere else when it happened, I may not be here today to talk about it.”
Sanders has had a history of heart problems, and those run in his family. About four years ago, he had open-heart surgery. Officiating another game a few nights before the incident at Jefferson, he had collapsed during a timeout. He was under doctor’s care but felt well enough to return to the court after enjoying Thanksgiving with his family.
The game between Summerfield and Jefferson went into the fourth quarter. That’s when Sanders began to feel something was wrong.
“I am so blessed and grateful to be where the right people were with me,” Sanders said. “I had the right people there at the right time.”
After being transported to a nearby hospital in Monroe, he was sent to another in Toledo. He spent several days in the hospital undergoing heart tests and procedures. He went home for recovery and recently started attending basketball games in the area again.
“People have been so nice through all of this,” he said. “I’ve gotten messages and cards and calls and texts from people all over the place, people I don’t even know. A lot of the officials that I’ve worked with have reached out to me. It’s really a close-knit group.”
Thankfully, his heart is improving.
Sanders is a 1987 graduate of Ottawa Lake Whiteford. He got his start as a referee for youth basketball at Whiteford Elementary School. Then-athletic director John Flynn encouraged him to get his MHSAA registration, and helped him get it. Soon after, Flynn was assigning him middle school games.
Over the years, Sanders began umpiring baseball and added refereeing football a few years ago.
He loves sports and being close to the game.
“That’s why I do it,” he said. “I wanted to be a basketball official because I enjoy working with the student-athletes. I like the exercise, especially during the wintertime. Outside it’s snowy and wet, and this was a way to get out and do something.”
He’s busiest during basketball season where he is assigned as many as four or five games a week. In 2022, he officiated a boys Semifinal game at the Breslin Center. He rarely slows down or takes nights off.
Since the incident, Sanders has been going through a series of tests on his heart and has had an ICD – or implantable cardioverter defibrillator – installed in his chest. An elementary school teacher in Toledo, he expects to return to work soon.
He’s met some of the first responders who helped save him that night at Jefferson but still isn’t sure just how many people played a role. He’s grateful the district had a defibrillator nearby – and especially that people were there who knew how to use it.
Schiffler said people just sprang into action, like they were trained to do.
“I was shook. I’m not going to lie,” he said. “The people who were trained in that knew just what to do.”
LaRocca and Myshock were there watching their sons play on the Summerfield team. Dafoe, who played sports at Summerfield and with Sanders as his referee and umpire on a number of occasions, has a brother on the varsity team.
Sanders is tentatively scheduled to referee a game at Adrian Lenawee Christian on Monday, Jan. 20. He can’t wait to shake the rust off, put on the striped shirt and blow his whistle. He knows there will be eyes on him throughout the game.
“I’ve had so many people tell me, ‘Take the rest of the winter off, don’t come back too early,’” Sanders said. “I want to get back out there. Something tells me in my heart and soul that I’m ready. I had my stress test, and I did well. Am I ready? I want to say yes. I think so. Only time will tell.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) MHSAA official Doug Sanders monitors the action during a 2022 Division 4 Semifinal between Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and Genesee Christian. (Middle) Bradley is in uniform for a baseball game. (Below) Bradley makes a call behind the plate during a Monroe County Fair youth softball tournament game at least a decade ago. (Middle photo courtesy of Doug Sanders. Below photo by Kim Brent, courtesy of the Monroe News.)