Today in the MHSAA: 12/7/17
December 7, 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. Hockey: Division 1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central downed Division 3 No. 4 Warren DeLaSalle 3-0 in a matchup of Catholic League Central and statewide powers – Observer & Eccentric
2. Hockey: Staying in the Catholic League Central, Division 1 No. 3 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Division 2 No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice 5-2 – Oakland Press
3. Wrestling: As Division 1 No. 4 Hartland opened with a sweep of Flushing and Lake Orion, an Eagles senior celebrated a return to the mat after two seasons away – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Boys Swimming & Diving: Okemos, an honorable mention in Lower Peninsula Division 2, won the annual Howard Comstock Waverly Relays, anticipating it as the start to what could be a special season for the Chiefs – Lansing State Journal
5. Girls Basketball: Rickea Jackson scored 30 points to lead reigning Class C champ Detroit Edison Public School Academy past Detroit East English 89-47 – Detroit News
6. Hockey: Division 2 No. 10 Midland Dow scored four unanswered goals during the third period to get past rival Midland 5-1 – Midland Daily News
7. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 3 Remus Chippewa Hills has high expectations this season and started things out with a 46-20 win over Traverse City West – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
8. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 7 Stevensville Lakeshore opened its season with a loss, but not before giving undefeated Mishawaka, Ind., a tough challenge, 37-29 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. Hockey: The ice surface at USA Hockey Arena – home to the MHSAA Finals – was renamed for former Detroit Catholic Central goalie Mitchel Kiefer, who died in a car crash with a distracted driver in 2016 after helping the Shamrocks to a Division 1 championship earlier that year – Observer & Eccentric
10. Wrestling: New Baltimore Anchor Bay dedicated its wrestling mat to former standout Larry Rybarz III, who won more than 200 matches during his high school career and died in a car crash in August at age 24 – 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.)