Today in the MHSAA: 3/13/17
March 13, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Three more sports finished their seasons with MHSAA Finals over the weekend while boys basketball got through its first round – and just this afternoon, the newest Miss Basketball was crowned.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Girls Basketball
Muskegon Mona Shores’ Jordan Walker, a member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, was named Miss Basketball today – Detroit Free Press
Boys Basketball
Mario Whitley had 36 points and 20 rebounds as Frankenmuth beat Bridgeport 58-49 in a Class B District Final and rematch of Tri-Valley Conference East co-champions – Saginaw News
Flushing won its first District title since 1982, downing St. Johns 66-56 in Class A – Flint Journal
Cedarville downed Pickford 61-39 in a Class D Final after finishing second to Pickford in league play – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Gymnastics
Rockford won a third straight team championship Friday, while Brighton’s Courtney Casper and North Farmington’s Elisa Bills followed up with individual titles Saturday – Second Half
Hockey
The southeastern Lower Peninsula dominated this season’s Finals as Brighton, Birmingham Brother Rice and Warren DeLaSalle won championships Saturday – Second Half
Boys Swimming & Diving
Repeat champions reigned at the Lower Peninsula Finals, with Brother Rice and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood winning their fourth straight titles and Dexter winning its second consecutive – Second Half
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.)