Today in the MHSAA: 5/10/17
May 10, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Top teams statewide faced off in local matchups in soccer and softball Tuesday, and check our “Good Read” at the bottom of this report for the story behind the voice that will be missed both in Battle Creek and by Michigan's wrestling community as a whole.
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
Standish-Sterling’s Sean O’Keefe won both games of a doubleheader against Freeland, the first in relief and the second game with a shutout – Bay City Times
Boys Golf
Escanaba shined with a 319 to win the Kiwanis Invitational at Northern Michigan University – Marquette Mining Gazette
Manistee Catholic Central clinched the West Michigan D League title – Manistee News Advocate
From Monday, Tecumseh edged Adrian and Clinton both by a stroke to win the Lenawee County championship – Adrian Daily Telegram
Boys Lacrosse
Division 2 No. 10 Midland downed Bay City Western 21-2 to clinch a fifth straight Saginaw Valley League title – Midland Daily News
From Monday, Division 1 No. 9 South Lyon finished an unbeaten run in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Kensington Conference with an 8-6 win over Plymouth – Observer & Eccentric
Girls Soccer
Kenna White scored twice to lead Division 1 No. 10 Plymouth past No. 2 Canton in a Kensington Lakes Activities Association South clash – Observer & Eccentric
Division 2 No. 18 Detroit Country Day held off multiple rushes by Troy Athens to secure a 3-2 win – Oakland Press
Softball
Hadlie Hinojosa and Taylor Nichols combined for five home runs and 17 RBI in Parma Western’s sweep of Jackson Lumen Christi – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Division 2 No. 4 Vicksburg and unranked Edwardsburg split a key doubleheader, Edwardsburg winning the first game 8-6 and Vicksburg the second 12-5 – Kalamazoo Gazette
Oxford shut down Lake Orion 9-1 in a matchup of Division 1 honorable mentions thanks to 15 strikeouts by Kaitlyn Bean; Lake Orion was up 8-5 in the second game when it was suspended because of darkness – Oakland Press
Girls Tennis
Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 5 Holland Christian won six of eight flights to claim the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green tournament championship – Holland Sentinel
Saline downed Ann Arbor Huron for the first time in eight years, 5-3 – Saline Post
Good Read
The Battle Creek and statewide wrestling communities are mourning the death of longtime Battle Creek Central coach Jeff McGinnis, who died Monday and was the longtime national anthem voice at the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals – 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.)