Today in the MHSAA: 5/8/18
May 8, 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 Tennis: Holland West Ottawa, No. 6 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, won the first outright Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title in program history with a clincher over Caledonia – Holland Sentinel
3. Girls Tennis: No. 1 singles player Anne Bandrowski earned the 100th win of her career in LP Division 4 No. 3 Traverse City St. Francis’ sweep of Charlevoix – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Girls Soccer: No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central downed No. 18 Grand Haven in a nonleague matchup of Division 1 ranked teams – Grand Haven Tribune
4. Baseball: Unranked Plymouth edged Division 1 No. 14 Livonia Stevenson 4-3 thanks to a heavy-hitting performance by Nolen Dingledey – Observer & Eccentric
5. Boys Golf: Pinckney shot a 329 to beat runner-up Oxford and win the Jim Sander Invitational – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
6. Girls Soccer: Shelby’s Amy England had four goals and two assists in her team’s 8-2 win over Hart – Local Sports Journal
7. Softball: Hillman came back from a seven-run deficit to down AuGres-Sims 11-10, then won the second game as well – Alpena News
8. Track & Field: The Norway boys and Iron River West Iron County girls repeated as champions at the Norway Invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News
9. Softball: Warren Lincoln came back from a nine-run deficit to down Madison Heights Madison 25-15 – Macomb Daily
10. Girls Soccer: Manistee scored twice over the final eight minutes to down rival Ludington 2-1 – Manistee News Advocate
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.)