Today in the MHSAA: 10/10/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 10, 2022
1. CROSS COUNTRY Several of the state’s top teams competed at the annual Portage Invitational, with Benzie Central’s Hunter Jones setting a boys meet record in 14:37, and the following teams winning championships: Ann Arbor Pioneer (No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 1), Otsego (LPD2 No. 1), Traverse City St. Francis (LPD3 No. 1) and Johannesburg-Lewiston girls (LPD4 No. 2); and Northville (LPD1 No. 1), Pinckney (LPD2 No. 8), Hart (LPD3 No. 1) and Wyoming Potter’s House Christian boys (LPD4 No. 1) – Benzie Record Patriot | Athletic.net
2. GIRLS GOLF Top-ranked South Lyon shot a 321 to edge No. 4 Farmington Hills Mercy by seven strokes and claim a Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional title – Oakland Press
3. BOYS SOCCER Division 4 No. 15 Bad Axe defeated Caro 5-1 to clinch the Greater Thumb Conference championship – Huron Daily Tribune
4. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING West Bloomfield freshman Elizabeth Eichbrecht won multiple races against some of the state’s top competition at the annual MISCA meet – MISCAonline.net
5. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 8 Oxford girls repeated and the No. 13 Troy boys won for the first time at the Oakland County Invitational – Oakland Press
6. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 3 Grand Rapids South Christian defeated Ada Forest Hills Eastern 4-0 to clinch the outright Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold title – FOX 17
7. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD2 No. 9 Goodrich girls and Flushing boys were champions at the Genesee Country Championships – Flint Journal
8. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD3 No. 9 Onsted girls and LPD4 No. 4 Adrian Lenawee Christian boys won Hudson Boosters Invitational titles – Adrian Daily Telegram
9. VOLLEYBALL Sault Ste. Marie defeated Escanaba twice, Houghton and Stephenson to win the Escanaba Invitational – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
10. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Kent City won its Dig Pink Tournament, defeating Grandville Calvin Christian in the final – Local Sports Journal
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)