Today in the MHSAA: 10/4/17
October 4, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Boys Soccer: Rochester Adams held firm to its No. 2 ranking in Division 1 with a 2-0 win over No. 3-ranked Troy Athens – Detroit News
2. Girls Golf: Division 2 No. 2 Brighton continued to shine with a 309 to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association tournament ahead of runner-up and No. 7-ranked Northville, which shot a school-record 313 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Boys Soccer: Unranked East Lansing upset Division 3 No. 5 Williamston in a shootout in Capital Area Activities Conference Gold Cup play, while unranked DeWitt also upset Division 2 No. 9 Haslett in another first-round game and unranked St. Johns knocked out top seed and Division 1 No. 20 Jackson also in a shootout – Lansing State Journal
4. Volleyball: Class C No. 9 Calumet came back from dropping the first set to beat honorable mention Houghton in five as senior Lea Bjorn set a school record with 28 kills – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD1 honorable mention Zeeland edged LPD3 No. 2 Holland Christian 105-81 – Holland Sentinel
6. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 14 Rochester broke open a scoreless game at halftime to down No. 18 Troy 3-0 – Oakland Press
7. Girls Golf: Marysville shot a 348 to win the St. Clair County tournament by 21 strokes over runner-up St. Clair – Port Huron Times Herald
8. Boys Soccer: Division 2 No. 19 St. Joseph got past No. 20 Richland Gull Lake 1-0 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. Girls Golf: LPD3 No. 10 Big Rapids added another Central State Activities Association championship to the program’s successful history – Big Rapids News
10. Volleyball: For the second time in four days, Rudyard’s Sydnie Zeeryp broke her school record for blocks in a match with 10 this time against DeTour; Rudyard is No. 8 in Class D – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Also of note …
Girls Golf: From Monday, Brighton, DeWitt and LPD4 No. 2 Jackson Lumen Christi claimed the top three places, respectively, at Monday’s East Lansing Invitational – JoeInsider.com
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.)