Edmundo Flores is getting ready. He’s at a high school in Martin, a small town in Allegan County. It’s right before the district teams' wrestling tournament takes place. Flores is a sports official — another term for sports referee.
"I can't make you an official, you know, it's gotta be from within," Flores said.
"It takes different breed of person, because you know you're going to get yelled at. You know you're not going to be perfect. But you're going to try to do the best job you can possibly can."
This is Flores’ 42nd year as an official. He’s heard it all when it comes to comments from spectators, coaches and parents. Not everyone wants to take on that role.
Geoff Kimmerly is a spokesman for the Michigan High School Athletic Association or MHSAA, which hires and trains sports officials. Kimmerly says comments from spectators play a role in more people not signing up.
"I think working with our schools, a lot of messaging emphasizing the fact that, 'Hey, we need to realize that these are human beings, that they are right almost all of the time, that they know the game better than anybody in the stands, for the most part, and that they may make an error here and there, but that is what human beings do.
"We've been putting that message out there now pretty strongly for the last couple of years," Kimmerly said.
It’s been putting that message out there as it seeks to build back from the losses it experienced during the pandemic.
A Covid-era drop in staffing
The Association had about 9600 referees in July 2019. Two years later, in the thick of Covid, it had lost about 1500 of them. The Association has made gains since then. But as of July 2024, it still had about 8% fewer officials than it did before the pandemic.
The MHSAA uses statements given to public address announcers as a form of recruitment. Kimmerly says it is a way of showing sportsmanship and offering those spectators a chance to make those calls officially.
"You know, telling people, "Hey, if you know this thing so well, we certainly could use you on the mat as an official as well."
After officiating his final wrestling match during a tournament this winter at Portage Northern High School, Kevin Raber gathers his belongings and explained another reason why the sport needs more referees.
“Obviously with the possibility of the girls' sports increasing, we need more officials to eventually, hopefully they'll become their own sport," Raber said.
Raber has been a referee for over a decade. He says he does his part in assisting younger referees.
"I just mentor, really, since I've been comfortable enough to mentor these younger officials. There's not a specific time, it wasn't a title or anything that I was told to do today," Raber said.
Geoff Kimmerly of the MHSAA said that how spectators treat officials will play a part in recruiting more.
“We are moving in the right direction, but you know, even the spectator who's just a casual fan can play a role in that by how they treat officials when they're watching games," Kimmerly said.
In addition, referees now have the opportunity to register for two sports for the price of applying for one.