Today in the MHSAA: 4/11/16
April 11, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Forget for a minute the snow of the last two days; spring has arrived for high school sports, and a number of teams got started over the weekend.
Baseball
Port Huron Northern pitcher Brett Manis picked up a memorable early highlight with 17 strikeouts in no-hitting Yale on Friday – Port Huron Times Herald
Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse improved to 3-1 with a 6-4 comeback win over Macomb Dakota at the Spring Break Tournament – Macomb Daily
Girls Tennis
Midland Dow opened with an impressive pair of wins over Division 3 powers Detroit Country Day and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood – Midland Daily News
Track & Field
Some top Upper Peninsula athletes got off to quick starts as Ironwood competed at the Simpson Invitational in Superior, Wisconsin – Ironwood Daily Globe
Good Reads
The Detroit-area Observer & Eccentric newspapers have been reporting over the last two weeks a number of stories on officials as the MHSAA works to recruit more into the avocation. Below are links to just some from the series.
Wrestling official Zaim Cunmulaj - KLAA assignor Bob Czech - Football and Basketball official Donta Favors - MHSAA always recruiting
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.)