Today in the MHSAA: 12/7/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 7, 2023
1. WRESTLING Division 4 No. 4 Bronson opened the season with a sweep of Division 2 No. 6 Stevensville Lakeshore and Battle Creek Pennfield – Coldwater Daily Reporter
2. HOCKEY Traverse City West defeated Division 2 No. 8 Central on the ice for the first time since 2018, 2-1 – MI Sports Now
3. BOYS BASKETBALL Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker ended Standish-Sterling’s 32-game regular-season winning streak, 52-48 – Bay City Times
4. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 7 Saginaw Heritage picked up a key Saginaw Valley League win, 5-3 over Midland Dow – WJRT
5. WRESTLING Central Montcalm opened with a win in front of a school assembly, downing Carson City-Crystal 57-13 – Greenville Daily News
6. BOYS BASKETBALL Undefeated North Muskegon dealt the first loss this winter to Manistee, 52-47 – Local Sports Journal
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Flint Carman-Ainsworth opened with a 65-52 win over Lansing Waverly – Mid-Michigan Now
8. WRESTLING Division 4 Nio. 7 Union City opened its season with wins over East Jackson and Battle Creek Harper Creek – Coldwater Daily Reporter
9. WRESTLING Reed City started with wins over Clare and Mount Pleasant, the former 33-31 – Big Rapids Pioneer
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Warren Fitzgerald held off Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse 52-45 – 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.)