Wrestling Finals Ticket Sales Underway

February 14, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Fans wishing to purchase advance tickets for the 2017 Michigan High School Athletic Association Team and Individual Wrestling Finals may now do so through the host sites' box offices, from Central Michigan University for Team Wrestling Finals and The Palace of Auburn Hills for Individual Finals.

CMU will host the Team Quarterfinals on Feb. 24 and Semifinals and Finals on Feb. 25, and tickets are available through CMU Ticket Central. Quarterfinal tickets cost $8 and one ticket is good for all 16 matches, starting with the Division 4 session at noon. Semifinal tickets cost $10 and are good for both sessions of that round beginning at 9 a.m.

Team Finals tickets also cost $10 and are good for both sessions – new this season, the four Finals will be split with Divisions 1 and 4 competing at 3:30 and Divisions 2 and 3 wrestling at 6 p.m. All-session tickets good for all matches both days cost $20. 

Tickets for this season’s Individual Finals from March 2-4 at the Palace of Auburn Hills are available exclusively through The Palace Ticket Store. Only all-session reserved seat tickets will be sold, at a cost of $55 each plus applicable handling charges.

Remaining single-session reserved and general admission tickets will go on sale Feb. 27 through The Palace Ticket Store. Single-session reserved seat tickets are priced at $12 each, and general admission seats in the upper bowl of the arena are priced at $11 per session and include in and out parking privileges.  

Spectators ordering reserved seat tickets for the Individual Finals must designate the wrestling division they prefer to watch, which will result in their ticket assignment being in full view of the mats being used for that competition. For Divisions 3 and 4, the seats will be on the side of the arena opposite the mat placement, providing an unobstructed view of those mats.

Links to both box offices can be found on the Wrestling page of the MHSAA Website. Individual Finals tickets also may be charged by phone to American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard by calling (248) 377-0100.

2021-22 MHSAA Officials Registration Underway

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

June 29, 2021

The MHSAA is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2021-22 school year.

The MHSAA annually receives registration by more than 9,000 officials, but in part due to COVID-19 precautions had just 7,968 during the 2020-21 school year – a decrease of nearly 14 percent from 2019-20.

“We are thankful for the leadership shown by our officials as they worked together to provide coverage of all levels of school sports events during this unpredictable year, but certainly we’re looking forward to refilling our ranks and taking some of the pressure off the many officials who worked nearly daily during the pandemic seasons,” said MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice, who supervises the officials program. “With the elimination of restrictions this spring and the return of full schedules anticipated this fall, there’s no better time for experienced officials to return and those interested in registering for the first time to become part of this essential and valued group.”

For all new and returning officials, those who register online again will receive a $5 discount off their processing fees. A $16 fee is charged for each sport in which an official wishes to register, and the online processing fee is $40. Officials submitting registration forms by mail or on a walk-up basis will incur a $45 processing fee. Officials registered in 2020-21 will be assessed a late fee of $30 for registration after Aug. 15. The processing fee includes liability insurance coverage up to $1 million for officials while working contests involving MHSAA schools.

Online registration can be accessed by clicking “Officials” on the home page of the MHSAA Website. Forms also are available online that can be printed and submitted by traditional mail to the MHSAA Office at 1661 Ramblewood Drive in East Lansing. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 332-5046 or by e-mail at [email protected].

There is an officials' registration test for first-time officials and officials who were not registered during the past school year. The test is derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook, which also is available on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Manuals for both sports are available on the Officials page. New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2020-21 also must complete the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course, also available on the MHSAA Website.

There also are opportunities to officiate for students at least 14 years old and in grades 9-12 through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate subvarsity contests, while freshmen and sophomores may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support. Find information on the Legacy Program by clicking “REGISTER NOW” on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website.

PHOTO by Jamie McNinch.