Today in the MHSAA: 2/1/18
February 1, 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. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 9 Stevensville Lakeshore claimed the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West title with a 32-31 win over No. 6 Niles decided on the ninth tie-breaker criteria – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
2. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 2 Richmond downed No. 6 Algonac 46-15 to claim the Blue Water Area Conference championship, continuing a string that began in 2005 – Port Huron Times Herald
3. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 3 Mendon improved to 25-1 overall and clinched the Southwest 10 championship with wins over Bloomingdale and Cassopolis – Sturgis Journal
4. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 8 Alma clinched its second straight Tri-Valley Conference Central title with a win over Chesaning – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
5. Girls Basketball: Utica Eisenhower and St. Clair Shores Lakeview locked down championships in their respective Macomb Area Conference divisions – Macomb Daily
6. Boys Basketball: Fowler (10-1) handed Dansville its third loss this season in a league matchup of top teams statewide in Class D and C, respectively – Lansing State Journal
7. Boys Basketball: Reigning West Michigan D League champion Baldwin avenged an earlier loss this season to Bear Lake, winning the rematch 82-70 – Big Rapids News
8. Bowling: Midland swept Lapeer, the boys winning 16-14 to remain undefeated at 11-0 – Midland Daily News
9. Officials: Michigan is in serious need of new high school officials as registrations have dropped and longtime officials are heading toward retirement. MLive and ABC 12 are among those who are helping us get out the word – Grand Rapids Press/ABC12
10. Hockey: Hancock coach Dan Rouleau, Calumet’s Dan Giachino and Houghton’s Corey Markham all have come home to lead teams in Copper Country that are among the highest ranked in Division 3 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: From Tuesday, Rock Mid-Peninsula’s Terry Brower went over 1,000 career points in a two-point win over Eben Junction Superior Central – Escanaba Daily Press
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.)