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: 5/15/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 15, 2024

1. SOFTBALL Division 2 honorable mention Big Rapids clinched a share of a third-straight Central State Activities Association championship with a sweep of Lakeview – Big Rapids Pioneer

2. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 14 Maple City Glen Lake swept Benzie Central to clinch the Northwest Conference title – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 6 Hartland won the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title for the first time since 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Plymouth – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

4. BOYS GOLF Pentwater placed five golfers among the top seven finishers in clinching the West Michigan D League championship tournament win – Ludington Daily News

5. BASEBALL Jackson Lumen Christi defeated Division 4 No. 7 Marine City Cardinal Mooney 5-0 to claim the Catholic High School League Cardinal title – WILX

6. SOFTBALL Bronson split with Springport, winning the second game to finish a run to a third-straight outright Big 8 Conference championship – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 13 Mason swept St. Johns to clinch the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title – Lansing State Journal

8. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 6 Allen Park avenged an earlier loss to Division 2 No. 8 Trenton with a 5-4 victory – Southgate News-Herald

9. BASEBALL No. 15 Portage Northern swept No. 8 Mattawan in a league matchup of Division 1 ranked teams – Kalamazoo Gazette

10. BASEBALL No. 10 Frankenmuth won the first game and No. 4 Freeland the second as two of the best in Division 2 faced off in league play – Saginaw News