Today in the MHSAA: 10/17/16
October 17, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A busy championship weekend ended with two first-time MHSAA Finals golf winners, the end to a near-decade run in tennis, favorites winning in cross country and surprises claiming titles in volleyball.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Cross Country
Corunna’s boys followed standout Noah Jacobs to a Greater Lansing Invitational repeat championship, while Lansing Catholic claimed the girls title paced by a dominant run by Olivia Theis – Lansing State Journal (Boys/Girls)
The Grosse Ile boys and Wyandotte Roosevelt girls won Southgate News-Herald championships – Southgate News-Herald (Boys/Girls)
The Macomb Dakota boys won their third straight Macomb County title, and Romeo won the girls title while Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Karenna Duffey won the individual girls championship for the third time – Macomb Daily (Boys/Girls)
The Blissfield girls and Tecumseh boys won Lenawee County cross country championships – Adrian Daily Telegram
The Sturgis girls and Detroit Catholic Central boys won the Division 1-2 race at the 52nd Kiwanis Invitational in Sturgis, while Bronson’s boys and Quincy’s girls won the Division 3-4 race – Sturgis Journal/Coldwater Daily Reporter
Girls Golf
Rochester, Midland Dow, Spring Lake and Macomb Lutheran North won MHSAA Lower Peninsula championships Saturday, Dow and Lutheran North for the first time and Spring Lake for the third straight season – Second Half
Boys Tennis
Ann Arbor Huron, Midland Dow, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett won Lower Peninsula championships as well, with Liggett ending Ann Arbor Greenhills’ eight-year run in Division 4 – Second Half
Volleyball
Unranked Muskegon Mona Shores swept Class B No. 8 Fruitport to win the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle
Unranked Battle Creek Lakeview downed Class B No. 6 Harper Creek in three sets to win its first All-City championship since 2007 – Battle Creek Enquirer
Calumet downed host Houghton to win the Gremlins’ invitational – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Class A honorable mention Niles won its sixth straight tournament, downing Comstock, Galesburg-Augusta, Decatur, Kalamazoo Hackett and host Loy Norrix in the final – Niles Daily Star
Class D No. 10 Pittsford swept No. 5 North Adams-Jerome to win the Jonesville “Think Pink” Tournament – Hillsdale Daily News
Adrian Madison downed Adrian in the final to claim the Lenawee County Tournament title – Adrian Daily Telegram
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.)