Today in the MHSAA: 6/7/18
June 7, 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 Lacrosse: No. 3 Okemos earned its return to the Finals with a 10-9 upset win of top-ranked East Grand Rapids – WLNS
2. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central edged No. 2 Hartland 13-12 in the night’s closest boys lacrosse Semifinal – Detroit News
3. Girls Lacrosse: No. 6 Brighton will play in its first championship game in this sport since 2011 after a 16-14 Division 1 Semifinal win over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Girls Lacrosse: Top-ranked Rockford downed No. 3 Hartland 25-8 to earn a shot at its sixth straight Division 1 title – WOOD TV
5. Girls Lacrosse: Reigning Division 2 champion and No. 2-ranked Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood will return to the championship game after a 22-4 Semifinal win over No. 9 Farmington Hills Mercy – Observer & Eccentric
6. Boys Lacrosse: No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice will get a chance to play for a 14th straight Division 1 title thanks to a 10-4 Semifinal win over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills – Oakland Press
7. Boys Lacrosse: No. 2 East Grand Rapids will play to repeat as Division 2 champion after a 16-3 Semifinal win over No. 9 Grosse Pointe North – FOX 17
8. Boys Lacrosse: Top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central will play in the Division 2 Final for the third straight season thanks to a 19-3 Semifinal win over No. 10 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – FOX 17
9. Girls Soccer: No. 16 Grandville got past No. 5 Rockford 3-2 in a Division 1 Regional matchup of teams that split a league championship – FOX 17
10. Baseball: Division 1 No. 6 Grand Ledge downed Division 2 No. 7 DeWitt 4-1 to win the 57th Capital Diamond Classic title – Lansing State Journal
From Tuesday …
Girls Soccer: No. 6 Warren Regina moved on in Division 3 with a 1-0 win over No. 8 Grosse Ile – Macomb Daily
Girls Soccer: Division 3 No. 3 Detroit Country Day moved on to the Regional Final with a 3-1 win over No. 7 Macomb Lutheran North – C&G Newspapers
Girls Soccer: No. 15 Marshall edged No. 6 Dexter 1-0 in Division 2 to advance to a Regional Final – Battle Creek Enquirer
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.)