Today in the MHSAA: 10/20/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 20, 2022
1. BOYS SOCCER Top-ranked Richland Gull Lake ended No. 8 Parma Western’s season with only one loss, 1-0 in a Division 2 District Final – FOX 17
2. CROSS COUNTRY The Lower Peninsula Division 2 honorable mention Shepherd girls clinched their 13th-straight Jack Pine Conference championship, and Gladwin’s boys repeated – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
3. VOLLEYBALL Bullock Creek swept Standish-Sterling to claim an outright Tri-Valley Conference 10 title, its first league championship in eight years – Midland Daily News
4. BOYS SOCCER Onsted clinched its first District title since 2009, defeating Michigan Center 3-0 in Division 3 – Adrian Daily Telegram
5. CROSS COUNTRY The Zeeland East girls – No. 5 in LPD2 – and Zeeland West boys won Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship races – Holland Sentinel Girls | Boys
6. BOYS SOCCER No. 6 Clarkston surged late to secure a Division 1 District title against Grand Blanc – Oakland Press
7. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD3 honorable mention Erie Mason boys won the final Tri-County Conference jamboree to clinch the league title – Monroe News
8. CROSS COUNTRY Otsego swept Wolverine Conference championships; Otsego’s girls are No. 1 in LPD2., and the boys are No. 8 – Niles Daily Star
9. CROSS COUNTRY The Centreville girls and Bloomingdale boys finished championship runs in the Southwest 10 Conference – Sturgis Journal
10. CROSS COUNTRY Hillsdale Academy swept Southern Central Athletic Association championship meet victories; both teams are ranked No. 4 in LPD4 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
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.)