Today in the MHSAA: 1/23/18
January 23, 2018
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. Girls Basketball: Grand Rapids Catholic Central lone senior Abigail Tepper saw her final season end almost as it began with a knee injury in her team’s opening game. But she’s contributing in other ways for the first-place Cougars after some substantial health discoveries along the way – FOX17
2. Boys Basketball: Suttons Bay handed Bear Lake its first loss of this season, 72-63 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Girls Basketball: Chassell continued its impressive start, moving to 11-1 with an 80-58 win over Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
4. Coaches: Brown City volleyball coach Jenna Welke talks of making the adjustment from player to coach in the latest of Port Huron Times Herald guest columns from local sports personalities – Port Huron Times Herald
5. Girls Basketball: Alliance League leader Fruitport Calvary Christian added a nonleague victory, 61-30 over North Muskegon – Grand Haven Tribune
6. Girls Basketball: Coldwater picked up another key win in the competitive Interstate 8 Athletic Conference, 45-27 over Battle Creek Harper Creek – Coldwater Daily Reporter
7. Boys Basketball: Hillsdale scored the game’s first 11 points on the way to a 55-35 win over Jonesville – Hillsdale Daily News
8. Girls Basketball: Detroit Osborn pushed nearer to .500 with a 59-31 win over Detroit Denby – Detroit News
9. Boys Basketball: Scottville Mason County Central moved to 8-2 with a tight 47-43 win over Manistee – Local Sports Journal
10. Football: Former Lapeer East standout and coach Jake Weingartz has been hired to run Davison’s program – ABC12
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.)