Today in the MHSAA: 3/5/18
March 5, 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: A total of 56 individual wrestling champions were crowned Saturday at Ford Field, led by four-time winners Brandon Whitman of Dundee and Jarrett Trombley of Lake Fenton – Second Half
2. Cheer: Sterling Heights Stevenson and Hudson won their first Finals championships, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep won its fifth straight and Gibraltar Carlson finished first again after coming in runner-up a year ago – Second Half
3. Bowling: Oxford’s girls and Bronson and Waterford Kettering’s boys were first-time team champions over the weekend, while Saturday’s singles saw eight first-time title winners – Second Half
4. Girls Basketball: Coldwater downed Battle Creek Harper Creek 37-29 in Class A to claim its first District title since 1995 – Battle Creek Enquirer
5. Hockey: The top three teams in Division 3 to start the playoffs were from “Copper Country” and top-ranked Hancock remains after a 4-0 Regional Final win over No. 2 Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
6. Hockey: No. 3 Brighton claimed a Division 1 Regional title with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. Girls Basketball: Kingsley continued its perfect run with a Class B District title win over Kalkaska, which eliminated the Stags a year ago – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Hockey: Midland won its first hockey Regional title since 2000 with a 9-2 win over the Tri-Valley co-op in Division 2 – Midland Daily News
9. Hockey: Holland West Ottawa upset No. 4 Grandville 2-1 in Division 1 to win its first hockey Regional title – Holland Sentinel
10. Gymnastics – Brighton and Howell tied for second at their Regional at Grand Ledge behind champion Linden to give Livingston County two teams at this Friday’s championship meet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
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.)