Today in the MHSAA: 5/9/18
May 9, 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: No. 3 Brighton won a matchup of two of the top-ranked teams in Division 1, downing No. 2 Novi 2-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Softball: For the first time in Rapid River history, the Division 4 honorable mention Rockets swept Division 3 No. 5 Gladstone – Escanaba Daily Press
3. Track & Field: Midland swept Saginaw Heritage, the boys team by a point to stay undefeated in the Saginaw Valley League ahead of the LPD1 No. 9 Hawks; the Midland girls are unranked as well and upset the No. 7 Heritage team – Midland Daily News
4. Track & Field: Engadine swept the Mid Peninsula Small School Invitational titles, the boys winning by a point and the girls by two to repeat – Escanaba Daily Press
5. Girls Tennis: Unranked Saline tied Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 5 Ann Arbor Huron – Saline Post
6. Girls Soccer: Nora Uldrys scored with five minutes to play to give Division 1 No. 14 Saline a 1-0 win over Ann Arbor Skyline after her team tied Skyline earlier this spring – Saline Post
7. Baseball: Division 3 No. 11 Reed City swept Remus Chippewa Hills in a matchup of teams that both entered undefeated in league play – Big Rapids News
8. Girls Tennis: Traverse City Central No. 1 doubles player Bailey Swanson became the second on her team this season to go over 100 career wins, doing so in the LPD2 No. 7 Trojans’ 6-2 victory over Petoskey – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Softball: Trenton made a run at handing Allen Park its first Downriver League loss, but the Jaguars held on for a 7-6 win – Southgate News Herald
10. Football: Salem coach Kurt Britnell resigned coming off leading the Rocks to their first playoff appearance since 1991 – Observer & Eccentric
Also of note …
Baseball: From Saturday, longtime Livonia Stevenson coach Rick Berryman reached 500 career wins with his team’s victory over Livonia Clarenceville; Stevenson is No. 14 in Division 1 – 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.)