Today in the MHSAA: 8/20/19
August 20, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A handful of reigning MHSAA champions led Monday’s action, with last season’s top girls golf team off to a fast start at one of the state’s most prestigious regular-season tournaments.
1. Girls Golf: Northville shot a 318 to build a 16-stroke lead during the first day of the Lober Invitational; Northville is the reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Boys Soccer: Reigning Division 1 champion Ann Arbor Skyline played Novi to a 1-1 draw – We Love Ann Arbor
3. Girls Golf: Rochester Adams shots a 236 to clear the field by 21 strokes and win Perry’s Larry Judson Scramble – Coldwater Daily Reporter
4. Boys Soccer: Maple City Glen Lake and Manistee combined for 16 goals as Glen Lake won 9-7 – Manistee News Advocate
5. Boys Soccer: Reigning Division 4 champion Leland came back for a 3-2 win over North Muskegon – Local Sports Journal
6. Boys Soccer: Midland scored twice during the first half to get by Frankenmuth 2-1 – Midland Daily News
7. Boys Soccer: Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard scored twice over two minutes to get past Lansing Christian 2-0 – We Love Ann Arbor
8. Boys Soccer: Detroit Catholic Central opened its season with a 3-2 win over Dearborn Divine Child – Oakland Press
9. Girls Tennis: Kingsford dominated singles and Gladstone dominated doubles as the teams played to a 4-4 draw – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Boys Soccer: Freeland opened the scoring midway through the first half and went on to a 5-1 win over Midland Bullock Creek – Midland Daily News
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.)