Today in the MHSAA: 10/12/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 12, 2022
1. CROSS COUNTRY The Ithaca girls – No. 14 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – and No. 6 St. Louis boys clinched Tri-Valley Conference 10 championships – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
2. VOLLEYBALL Kingsley swept Division 4 No. 2 Leland to clinch a share of the Northwest Conference title for the fourth-straight season – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. VOLLEYBALL Ludington defeated Fremont in four sets to clinch a share of the West Michigan Conference Rivers championship – Ludington Daily News
4. BOYS SOCCER Muskegon Mona Shores finished an Ottawa-Kent Conference Green title run with a 3-1 win over Grand Rapids Union – Local Sports Journal
5. VOLLEYBALL South Lyon East delivered Division 1 honorable mention White Lake Lakeland’s first loss of the season, winning in five sets – Oakland Press
6. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Manton kept pace in the Highland Conference with a sweep of LeRoy Pine River – Cadillac News
7. CROSS COUNTRY The Union City girls and Jonesville boys won third-straight Big 8 Conference jamborees – Coldwater Daily Reporter Girls | Boys
8. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Mona Shores opened O-K Green Tournament play with wins – MuskegonSports.com
9. CROSS COUNTRY Hart swept West Michigan Conference Rivers jamborees, while the Ludington girls and LPD2 No. 15 Fremont boys won in the Lakes; the Hart girls are No. 2 in LPD3, and the boys are No. 1 – Local Sports Journal Rivers | Lakes
10. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Calumet swept Negaunee – Upper Michigan Source
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.)