Today in the MHSAA: 10/11/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 11, 2023
1. CROSS COUNTRY Buckley’s girls – No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – claimed the school’s first Northwest Conference title in any girls sport, and Benzie Central clinched the boys championship while Traverse City St. Francis claimed the final Lake Michigan Conference titles; the St. Francis boys are No. 1 in LPD3, and the girls are No. 2 – Traverse City Record-Eagle | Benzie Record-Patriot
2. CROSS COUNTRY Brighton’s LPD1 No. 3-ranked girls dominated their race with Hartland and Howell to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. BOYS SOCCER Bad Axe downed Caro 4-1 to clinch a fifth-straight Greater Thumb Conference West championship – Huron Daily Tribune
4. BOYS SOCCER Division 4 No. 8 Bloomfield Hills Roeper edged Plymouth Christian Academy 1-0 to clinch the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue title – Hometown Life
5. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD2 No. 10 Alma boys and No. 9 Frankenmuth girls finished Tri-Valley Conference Red championship runs – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun | Athletic.net
6. GIRLS GOLF No. 6 Rochester carded a 333 to claim its Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional title – Oakland Press
7. GIRLS GOLF Ludington edged Remus Chippewa Hills by four strokes to win an LPD3 Regional – Ludington Daily News
8. GIRLS GOLF No. 4 St. Joseph carded a 364 to win an LPD2 Regional championship – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 10 Holland avenged an early-season loss to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 4-1 to finish its championship run through the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green – Holland Sentinel
10. VOLLEYBALL Ludington downed Fremont 3-1 in a matchup of co-leaders in the West Michigan Conference Lakes – MI Sports Now
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.)