Today in the MHSAA: 5/30/18
May 30, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Girls Soccer: Freshman Justina L’Esperance scored with just under 11 minutes to play to push unranked Hartland past No. 2 Brighton in a Division 1 District opener – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Baseball: Unranked Waterford Mott upset No. 5 Lake Orion 8-7 to move on in a Division 1 District – Oakland Press
3. Boys Lacrosse: Top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central downed No. 3 Vicksburg 25-12 in their Division 2 Regional Final as the Bulldogs played courageously for a teammate killed in a car crash over the weekend – Kalamazoo Gazette
4. Boys Lacrosse: Bloomfield Hills, No. 7 in Division 1, avenged an earlier 10-3 loss to Lake Orion by downing the No. 8 Dragons 8-7 to win its first Regional title in this sport – Oakland Press
5. Baseball: Unranked Union City upended No. 6 Bronson 3-0 in a Division 3 District game – Sturgis Journal
6. Boys Lacrosse: Top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central defeated No. 6 South Lyon United 17-8 in a Division 1 Regional Final – Observer & Eccentric
7. Boys Lacrosse: No. 9 Rockford won its second straight Division 1 Regional title, thanks to five goals from freshman Nick McCreery in a 15-5 win over Zeeland East/West – Grand Rapids Press
8. Girls Soccer: Boyne City earned its first postseason win in girls soccer, defeating Traverse City St. Francis in Division 3 – Petoskey News-Review
9. Softball: Division 4 No. 5 Frankfort opened its District with a win over West Michigan D League champ Bear Lake – Manistee News Advocate
10. Baseball: Midland Bullock Creek scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in downing Shepherd 3-2 in a Division 2 District opener – Midland Daily News
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: Novi coach Brandon Sinawi will take over Detroit Catholic Central after leading the Wildcats to the Class A Semifinals this winter – Observer & Eccentric
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.)