Today in the MHSAA: 4/27/17
April 27, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A pair of Mount Pleasant-area schools summoned memories of two decades ago in setting new standards on the track and in the field Wednesday.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Baseball
Brighton rode the pitching and hitting of Cameron Tullar to a sweep of 2015 Division 1 champ Hartland, 6-0, 3-2 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Division 1 No. 5 Sterling Heights Stevenson came back from 4-0 down in the fifth inning to finish a sweep of Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and move to 13-2 – Detroit News
Bronson no-hit New Buffalo over 10 innings to take two five-inning victories – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Girls Tennis
Ludington and Division 3 No. 10 Whitehall tied 4-4 in Coastal Conference play – Ludington Daily News
Lansing Christian got past Hillsdale 5-3 in a key match as it plays for a third-straight league title – Hillsdale Daily News
Track & Field
The six-time reigning Upper Peninsula Division 1 champion Marquette girls got past rival and 2016 Finals runner-up Escanaba 67-65 by winning the day’s final race – Escanaba Daily Press
Breckenridge’s boys won the Mid-State Activities Conference jamboree, their first league jamboree win since 1995 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Farwell’s Lillian Albaugh bested her previous best shot put by more than 14 inches to break a school record set in 1993 – and she got within 28 inches of breaking the discus record set that same year – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
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.)