Today in the MHSAA: 5/26/16
May 26, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Track & field league meets, golf Districts and lacrosse Regionals – and the wild ending to the Saginaw Valley League baseball title race – led a highlight-filled night of statewide high school action as the holiday weekend approaches.
Baseball
The Saginaw Valley League title hung on the continuation of a tie game between Division 1 top-10 teams Mount Pleasant and Bay City Western; the game started back up in the seventh inning, and three innings later Western had its fifth straight league title – Bay City Times
Boys Golf
Three Clarkston players broke 80 as the Wolves shot a 315 to win their Division 1 District at Twin Pines in Oakland Hills – Oakland Press
All four scorers broke 80 as Jackson Lumen Christi shot its season low, 305, to dominate its Division 3 District at Calderone Golf Club – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Girls Lacrosse
Reigning champion East Grand Rapids handed Grand Rapids Christian only its second loss in advancing in their Division 2 Regional – Grand Rapids Press
Girls Soccer
Paw Paw remained undefeated at 16-0-1 with a 2-1 edging of Mattawan – Kalamazoo Gazette
Utica Eisenhower finished its regular season a perfect 18-0 with a 2-0 win over New Baltimore Anchor Bay – Macomb Daily
Track & Field
Four girls surpassed the former record in the 1,600 to highlight the most impressive performances at the 38th West Michigan Invitational – Muskegon Chronicle
Traverse City Central’s boys won their eighth straight Big North Conference championship, clearing rival West by 20 points – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Livonia Ladywood won its first league title since 1996, nearly doubling runner-up Wixom St. Catherine in the Detroit Catholic League C-D – Detroit News
Three-sport standout Clayborn Allen was among champions for Detroit Loyola, which won the boys Catholic League C-D title despite having only 11 on its team – Detroit News
Flint Carman-Ainsworth’s boys continued their dominant run with a fourth straight Saginaw Valley League title, winning by 55 points – Flint 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.)