Today in the MHSAA: 10/4/16
October 4, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Golf, tennis and soccer teams continued to claim league championships Monday, as some of the state’s best played their last local matches before the start of MHSAA tournaments later this week.
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
Cedarville’s girls and boys teams, both ranked No. 4 in Upper Peninsula Division 3, swept the Eastern U.P. Conference second jamboree, the girls dominating and the boys edging UPD2 honorable mention Newberry by a point – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Girls Golf
Port Huron Northern followed Megan Randolph’s 79 to a St. Clair County championship with a 373 total, four strokes lower than runner-up Marysville – Port Huron Times Herald
LPD2 No. 6 St. Joseph shot a 349 to edge LPD4 No. 2 Kalamazoo Hackett by seven strokes and win the HawksHead Invitational in South Haven, the Bears' seventh tournament win in eight events this fall – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
LPD1 No. 2 Traverse City West and Harbor Springs finished first and second, respectively, at the Traverse City Central Invitational, which doubled as the Big North Conference championship tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Boys Soccer
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore got three second-half goals from Antonio Kazdaglis to down Warren Woods-Tower, and in doing so, clinch the Macomb Area Conference Gold title – Macomb Daily
Alpena’s Evan LeTourneau broke his school’s career goals record with his 42nd in a 5-1 win over Ogemaw Heights – Alpena News
Boys Tennis
LPD3 No. 7 Allegan claimed the Wolverine Conference championship with 72 points, three more than runner-up Sturgis – Sturgis Journal
Coldwater claimed its third straight Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship by edging Parma Western by two points in the league tournament; both are tied for No. 10 in LPD3 – 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.)