Today In The MHSAA: 5/18/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 18, 2022
1. BOYS GOLF Big Rapids claimed its 16th-straight league championship, clinching the Central State Activities Association title with a 351 at Cedar Chase – Big Rapids Pioneer
2. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 2 South Lyon swept honorable mention South Lyon East to run its Lakes Valley Conference title streak to four – Oakland Press
3. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 4 Gaylord locked up the Big North Conference championship with a sweep of Traverse City Central – MI Sports Now
4. TRACK & FIELD The Hart girls – No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – and LPD2 No. 2 Whitehall boys won West Michigan Conference league meet championships – Ludington Daily News
5. SOFTBALL Lake Orion split with Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, clinching the Oakland Activities Association Red title – Oakland Press
6. BASEBALL Division 2 top-ranked Ada Forest Hills Eastern and Division 1 No. 7 Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills are still tied atop the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold after a Tuesday split – FOX 17
7. SOFTBALL Division 1 honorable mention Zeeland West moved into first place alone in the O-K Green with a sweep of Zeeland East – Holland Sentinel
8. SOFTBALL Coldwater earned a split with Division 2 top-ranked Jackson Northwest, falling 4-0 before winning 3-1 in the second game – Coldwater Daily Reporter
9. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 3 Escanaba claimed a 6-0 win over Division 3 honorable mention Gladstone – Escanaba Daily Press
10. SOFTBALL Evart moved closer to a potential Highland Conference championship with a sweep of McBain – Cadillac News
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.)