Today in the MHSAA: 5/14/19
May 14, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Saugatuck track & field teams celebrated Monday like they have for most of this decade, and South Lyon’s girls soccer team celebrated like never before as more league championships were clinched and postseason play began in boys lacrosse.
1. Track & Field: The Saugatuck girls and boys teams both won their sixth straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore meet championships – Holland Sentinel
2. Girls Soccer: South Lyon clinched its first league title in this sport, downing Waterford Mott 1-0 in Lakes Valley Conference play – Oakland Press
3. Girls soccer: Division 2 top-ranked DeWitt downed Division 3 No. 14 Williamston 4-2 in a Capital Area Activities Conference Gold Cup quarterfinal – Lansing State Journal
4. Baseball: Division 3 No. 2 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian improved to 15-3 with a 12-0 win over Division 2 No. 10 Belding – FOX 17
5. Softball: Grace Lehto threw a no-hitter as Division 2 No. 3 Eaton Rapids opened Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic play with a 6-0 win over DeWitt – Lansing State Journal
6. Boys Golf: Tecumseh shot a 336 to win the Lenawee County tournament title – Adrian Daily Telegram
7. Boys Golf: Clarkston, No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 300 to win the Chemical City Invitational in Midland – Midland Daily News
8. Boys Lacrosse: Traverse City United’s co-op team defeated Muskegon Southside’s 21-3 in a Division 1 Pre-Regional game – WPBN
9. Softball: Midland swept Division 4 top-ranked Coleman 7-6 and 8-3 – Midland Daily News
10. Baseball: Hemlock and Division 3 No. 19 Pinconning split, Hemlock’s win also the first Tri-Valley Conference West loss for first-place Pinconning since it joined the league in 2016-17 – Bay City Times
Also of note …
Athlete of the Year: Detroit Edison’s Rickea Jackson and Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s Kendel Taylor were named this year’s statewide Athlete of the Year Award winners by the Detroit Athletic Club – State Champs Sports Network
Girls Tennis: From Saturday, LPD3 No. 3 Allegan finished first and Sturgis second at the Wolverine Conference tournament – Sturgis Journal
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.)