Today in the MHSAA: 11/13/20
November 13, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Volleyball Regional championship matches dominated Michigan high school coverage Thursday night as the playoff field reached its final 32 contenders.
1. Volleyball: No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian edged reigning Division 1 champ and top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy in five sets to claim a Regional championship – Oakland Press
2. Volleyball: No. 4 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep edged No. 6 North Branch in five sets to advance in Division 2 – Oakland Press
3. Volleyball: Honorable mention Calumet swept No. 10 Charlevoix to advance to the Division 3 Quarterfinals – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
4. Volleyball: Grand Blanc got past honorable mention Traverse City West in five sets in Division 1 to claim its first Regional title – Flint Journal
5. Volleyball: Honorable mention Birch Run earned its first Regional title since 1991, downing Saginaw Swan Valley in Division 2 – WJRT
6. Volleyball: Edwardsburg got past Battle Creek Harper Creek in Division 2 to win its first Regional title since 1992 – Niles Daily Star
7. Volleyball: Royal Oak Shrine clinched its first Regional title since 2007, defeating Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in Division 3 – Oakland Press
8. Volleyball: Honorable mention Ubly swept Dryden to advance to the Division 4 Quarterfinals – Huron Daily Tribune
9. Volleyball: No. 2 Lake Odessa Lakewood improved to 39-1 with a sweep of Lansing Catholic in Division 2 – Lansing State Journal
10. Volleyball: Honorable mention Warren Regina earned a repeat Division 2 Regional title with a sweep of Ferndale – Macomb Daily
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.)