What's My Why: Official Patricia Treman

September 23, 2026

Patricia Treman, Grand Rapids

Treman’s contributions as an MHSAA-registered volleyball official go back to the second season of girls volleyball as an MHSAA-sponsored championship sport. 

She began with the 1976-77 school year and also officiated basketball during the first 10 years of her 51-year tenure. 

I was mentored by Marcy Weston at CMU, and she’s the person that encouraged me to referee.

Hopefully I do that to someone, (a) young student out there, that something I say or do, that they want to move forward and either officiate or coach volleyball.

“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].

What's My Why

Sept. 16: Tony Bertuca, Coloma - Watch
Sept 9: Jenna Schroeder, Berkley - Watch
Sept. 2: Joey Crawford, Newton Square, Pa. - Watch
Aug. 26: Ron Torbert, Hanover, Md. - Watch
Aug. 19: Kari Seitz, Mill Valley, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 13: Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 5: Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
Aug. 3: Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22: Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
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

What's My Why: Official Ron Torbert

August 26, 2026

Ron Torbert, Hanover, Md.

Ron Torbert is a current NFL referee who worked Super Bowls LVI (2022) and LIX (2025). He has been on the NFL staff since 2010, starting as a side judge before being promoted to referee in 2014.

Prior to his time in the NFL, Ron worked in the Big Ten, MAC and GLIAC, and was an MHSAA-registered football official from 1989-2001. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Harvard Law School and also the current chair of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Board.

Nobody else in the stadium feels what we feel, and there’s something kinda special about being part of that small-knit community.

That’s what kept me coming back and coming back. I don’t play golf, but somebody said it’s like hitting that one golf shot – you’re not a very good golfer but you hit that one shot that brings you back for the next round. Being out on the field brings me back for the next game,

Once I figured out what it took to get good at it, now I want more, and that’s what keeps me coming back. It’s always a challenge of being better next week than I was last week.

“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].

What's My Why

Aug. 19: Kari Seitz, Mill Valley, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 13:
Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 5:
Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
Aug. 3:
Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22:
Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15:
Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9:
Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1:
Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24:
Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19:
Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12:
Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8:
Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
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