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What's My Why: Official Cindy Tyzo

June 8, 2026

Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield

Tyzo is one of what surely are only a handful of officials who have been registered for two MHSAA-sponsored sports since their first seasons as part of the championship lineup. She's is completing her 33rd year overall after first registering for the inaugural season of competitive cheer in 1993-94, and she also officiated the first season of MHSAA field hockey this past fall. 

Tyzo also just completed her eighth season officiating girls lacrosse. 

I love officiating because I love working with the young people and providing the opportunity for them to do the sport that they love. Because without officials, there's not game.

“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].

Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.

What's My Why

June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch

A gymnast competes on uneven parallel bars.

Be the Referee: Gymnastics Deduction

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

March 4, 2025

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Gymnastics Deduction - Listen

A gymnast performs a giant swing (on uneven parallel bars) but does not reach a full handstand position, stopping about 15 degrees short of vertical. The routine continues without any pauses or interruptions. 

What deduction, if any, should the judge apply for the lack of handstand position? 

A. No deduction 
B. 0.05 deduction 
C. 0.20 deduction 
D. 0.50 deduction 

The correct answer is B. 0.05 deduction. 

A gymnast must reach within 10 degrees of a full handstand position to avoid a deduction. Falling short by more than 10 degrees results in a 0.05 deduction for each instance. 

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Feb. 25: Competitive Cheer Inversion - Listen
Feb. 18: Ice Hockey Delay of Game - Listen
Feb. 11: Ski Helmets - Listen
Feb. 4: Wrestling In Bounds or Out? - Listen
Jan. 21: Block or Charge? - Listen
Jan. 14: Out of Bounds, In Play - Listen
Jan. 7: Wrestling Scoring - Listen
Dec. 17: Bowling Ball Rules - Listen
Dec. 10: Neck Laceration Protector - Listen
Dec. 3: Basketball Goaltending - Listen
Nov. 26: 11-Player Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 19: 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football - Listen
Nov. 12: Back Row Setter - Listen
Nov. 5: Football OT - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call" - Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen