Today in the MHSAA: 4/24/19
April 24, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
As we approach the end of April, league races are warming up and so is the weather up north as half of today’s top 10 come from Upper Peninsula or Big North Conference schools.
1. Softball: Division 1 No. 9 Clinton Township Chippewa Valley edged honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay 10-9 in Macomb Area Conference Red action – Macomb Dakota
2. Boys Golf: Cadillac shot a 313 to edge Lower Peninsula Division 2 No. 3 Gaylord by seven strokes and win its invitational – Cadillac News
3. Track & Field: Marquette swept Division 1 Dome meet championships at the Superior Dome – Marquette Mining Journal
4. Baseball: Midland Bullock Creek split with Division 2 No. 2 Saginaw Swan Valley, with the Lancers’ Derek Beougher throwing a no-hitter in his team’s win – Midland Daily News
5. Softball: Division 2 top-ranked Escanaba moved to 3-0 with a sweep of Division 3 No. 9 Negaunee – Escanaba Daily Press
6. Girls Soccer: Unranked Pinckney tied Division 2 No. 10 Dexter 2-2 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. Baseball: Division 1 No. 5 Portage Northern and unranked Portage Central split a high-scoring doubleheader – Kalamazoo Gazette
8. Baseball: Traverse City West opened its doubleheader with Division 2 No. 15 Petoskey with a 5-1 win, but the Northmen came back to claim the second game 10-4 – MI Sports Now
9. Girls Soccer: Jaelyn Dobrowolski had a hat trick to lead Traverse City West past Central 4-0 – WPBN
10. Baseball: Brett Sikorski set Bronson’s school record for career hits during the second game of a sweep of Concord – Sturgis Journal
Also of note …
Battle Creek Central: Assistant football coach and JV baseball coach Reggie Hull was recognized for heroism after saving a life with CPR during the fall – Battle Creek Enquirer
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.)