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
Be the Referee: Wrestling Tiebreakers
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
January 30, 2024
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 – Wrestling Tiebreakers - Listen
A wrestling dual is tied after 14 matches. What happens? How is a winner determined?
There are 17 possible criteria used to break ties, starting with advancing the team penalized the fewest number of team points for flagrant misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct.
The 17th and final tie-breaker, if needed, is a simple coin flip.
But how often are these steps actually used? A regular-season dual meet last week went to the seventh tie-break. And in the 2017 Division 3 Finals, Richmond beat Dundee for the state championship by going to the eighth step in the tie-breaker procedure. Richmond had scored more total first points and was crowned the winner.
Previous Editions
Jan. 23: Wrestling Technology - Listen
Jan. 9: 3 Seconds - Listen
Dec. 19: Unsuspecting Hockey Hits - Listen
Dec. 12: No More One-And-Ones - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen