Today in the MHSAA: 1/6/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 6, 2025
1. WRESTLING Division 3 top-ranked Dundee edged the host and Division 1 top-ranked Shamrocks by six points to win the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational – Monroe News
2. WRESTLING Division 2 No. 3 Freeland won its first Saginaw County championship, with five individual weight-class winners – Bay City Times
3. WRESTLING Division 3 No. 3 Algonac built on three straight runner-up finishes with its first Macomb County Invitational championship – Macomb Daily
4. BOYS BASKETBALL Trey McKenney became Orchard Lake St. Mary’s all-time leading scorer during a 67-52 win over Toledo Whitmer at the Motor City Roundball Classic – Oakland Press
5. COMPETITIVE CHEER Temperance Bedford in Division 1 at Allen Park in Division 2 were champions at the Allen Park Invitational – Southgate News-Herald
6. BOYS BASKETBALL Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice defeated reigning Division 2 champion Warren Lincoln 69-57 at the Motor City Roundball Classic – Oakland Press
7. HOCKEY Division 2 top-ranked Livonia Stevenson defeated Hancock and Houghton to win Houghton’s John MacInnes Hockey Classic for the first time since 1977 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Negaunee defeated Ewen-Trout Creek 47-30 and then Ludington 50-41 to win its Irontown Holiday Bash – Marquette Mining Journal
9. HOCKEY Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central increased its winning streak to 33 with a 5-2 victory over Division 3 No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Oakland Press
10. HOCKEY No. 2 Hartland downed No. 5 Clarkston 4-2 in a matchup of Division 1 contenders – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Also of note …
BOYS BASKETBALL Mcrecco Mcfadden became the first Burton Bentley player to score 1,000 career points – WJRT
GIRLS BASKETBALL Averie Zinn joined her older sister Ryleigh by reaching 1,000 career points – WJRT
BOYS BASKETBALL Peyton Ruel went over 1,000 career points although Muskegon Oakridge fell to Whitehall 63-51 – Muskegon Chronicle
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.)