Today in the MHSAA: 8/28/19
August 28, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Volleyball took the spotlight Tuesday across the state with multiple hopefuls showing they plan to be in the championship mix this fall.
1. Volleyball: Oxford made a serious opening statement with wins over Division 1 honorable mentions Lake Orion and Clarkston and Division 2 No. 6 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep at a quad – Oakland Press
2. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 3 Mattawan downed No. 5 Grand Haven in two sets to win the Buccaneers’ Early Season Invitational – Grand Haven Tribune
3. Volleyball: Essexville Garber won its first Bay County Championship by defeating Bay City Western in the final – Bay City Times
4. Cross Country: Otsego swept the girls and boys meets at the St. Joseph Invitational – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
5. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 4 Hamilton defeated No. 10 Niles, Edwardsburg and Spring Lake at a home quad – Holland Sentinel
6. Boys Soccer: Petoskey edged previously-unbeaten Elk Rapids 3-2 – Petoskey News-Review
7. Boys Soccer: Lake Orion improved to 6-2 by handing West Bloomfield its first defeat, 1-0 – Oakland Press
8. Boys Soccer: South Lyon added its second shutout in two games this season, downing Milford 3-0 – Observer & Eccentric
9. Volleyball: Division 4 No. 6 Camden-Frontier downed Jonesville and Reading, winning a combined six of seven games – Hillsdale Daily News
10. Volleyball: Escanaba opened league play with a sweep of neighbor Gladstone – Escanaba Daily Press
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.)