Today In The MHSAA: 4/22/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 22, 2021
Two of the state’s annual lacrosse powers began another season series Wednesday, and golf joined the headliners list in a big way with league and county competitions.
1. Boys Lacrosse: Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice downed Detroit Catholic Central 8-1 in their first meeting of the season – Oakland Press
2. Boys Golf: Flint Powers Catholic shot a 334 to win the Genesee County championship – Flint Journal
3. Girls Soccer: The game’s lone goal scored with 12 seconds to play gave New Baltimore Anchor Bay a 1-0 win over Utica Ford – Macomb Daily
4. Boys Golf: Traverse City West shot a 314 to win the first Big North Conference event – Cadillac News
5. Girls Soccer: Ludington outshot Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 22-1 in a 1-0 win – Local Sports Journal
6. Baseball: Division 3 No. 15 Traverse City St. Francis handed Kingsley its first defeat, 13-7 – Up North Live
7. Girls Soccer: Brownstown Woodhaven remained undefeated in league play with a 2-0 win over Gibraltar Carlson – Southgate News-Herald
8. Girls Soccer: Parma Western opened league play with a 2-0 shutout of Jackson Northwest – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
9. Baseball: Division 2 No. 10 Bay City John Glenn remained undefeated with a sweep of Saginaw Nouvel – Bay City Times
10. Softball: Traverse City St. Francis swept Kingsley 8-4 and 12-7 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
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.)