Today In The MHSAA: 4/21/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 21, 2021
Every day we play produces a story or a few, and Tuesday’s included a pair of coaching milestones and some regular-season matchups that may have been previews of postseason rematches in June.
1. Baseball: Bay City John Glenn coach Jeff Hartt reached 800 wins with his Division 2 No. 10-ranked team’s sweep of Birch Run – Bay City Times
2. Girls Soccer: Division 1 powers Brighton and Novi finished in a 1-1 draw as the Bulldogs scored with less than a minute to play – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Baseball: Division 2 No. 11 Frankenmuth swept No. 7 Saginaw Swan Valley 5-0 and 9-5, with the first game featuring a pitching matchup of future college teammates – Saginaw News
4. Softball: Division 2 contenders Frankenmuth and Swan Valley split, the Eagles winning the first game 4-0 and the Vikings the second 8-2 – Saginaw News
5. Softball: Frankfort coach Michael Thompson reached 450 career wins with his team’s sweep of Buckley – Up North Live
6. Track & Field: The Salem boys and Northville girls were victorious in snowy duals pitting top teams – Observer & Eccentric
7. Boys Lacrosse: Portage Central scored seven straight goals to come back and defeat Battle Creek Pennfield 9-7 – WWMT
8. Softball: Muskegon Mona Shores shut out Reeths-Puffer 4-0, but Reeths-Puffer came back with an 11-4 win in the second game of the doubleheader – Local Sports Journal
9. Girls Soccer: Laila Sharlow scored four of Waterford Kettering’s goals in a 5-0 win over Walled Lake Western – Oakland Press
10. Boys Lacrosse: Six Troy Athens players scored as the Red Hawks downed rival Troy 16-9 – Oakland 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.)