Today in the MHSAA: 4/29/19
April 29, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Power-packed matchups in golf and tennis highlighted action from the final weekend of April, with close finishes separating champions from the rest at three events topping today’s list.
1. Boys Golf: Rockford – No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 302 to edge Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern by two strokes and win the Bedford Valley Open – Midland Daily News
2. Girls Tennis: LPD1 No. 7 Midland Dow edged No. 4 Northville by two points to win the eight-team Ann Arbor Huron Invitational – Midland Daily News
3. Boys Golf: LPD2 No. 2 East Grand Rapids repeated as Traverse City Tee-Off champion, shooting a two-day 680 to edge Brighton by a stroke – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Softball: Division 1 No. 3 Bay City Western and Division 3 No. 3 Sanford Meridian split a pair of one-run games – Midland Daily News
5. Track & Field: Battle Creek Lakeview swept the All-City meet championships – Battle Creek Enquirer
6. Girls Lacrosse: Elena Salazar had seven goals and an assist to lead Hartland past Brighton 16-8; the teams were ranked Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, entering the week – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. Girls soccer: No. 6 Midland tied No. 10 Rochester Adams 0-0 in a matchup of ranked teams in Division 1 – Midland Daily News
8. Track & Field: Olivet swept the Union City Invitational championships, the Division 2 top-ranked boys by just 26 points ahead of Marshall – Coldwater Daily Reporter
9. Baseball: Division 2 No. 17 Detroit Country Day swept Division 1 No. 19 Bay City Western, with Aaron Dolney throwing a no-hitter in the opener – Midland Daily News
10. Softball: Division 3 No. 10 Gladstone improved to 13-1 with Traverse City St. Francis Invitational wins over Charlevoix, Kalkaska and Oscoda – Escanaba Daily 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.)