Today in the MHSAA: 8/29/17
August 29, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Football: At a time when many of the state’s elite basketball players have been specializing in that sport, it was hard not to notice Romeo Weems shining for the New Haven football team Friday; he’s also one of the top junior hoops players in the state – Macomb Daily
2. Boys Tennis: Traverse City St. Francis continued its early surge with a quad win over Armada, North Muskegon and Petoskey, and with powerhouse Ann Arbor Greenhills up next – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Boys Soccer: Aidan Day scored six goals against Oscoda to break the Alpena single-game scoring record – Alpena Daily News
4. Volleyball: East Grand Rapids finished 5-0 at the Grand Haven Invitational, downing Fruitport, Zeeland West, Montague, Grand Haven and in the final Coopersville, needing more than two sets only once – EastGRSports.com
5. Boys Soccer: West Michigan powers Holland Christian and Hudsonville Unity Christian played to a 0-0 tie – Holland Sentinel
6. Girls Golf: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood won the Flint Powers Invitational – Midland Daily News
7. Boys Soccer: Melvindale clinched the Downriver League title the last time it faced Brownstown Woodhaven, last fall; on Monday, Woodhaven avenged with a 2-0 win – Southgate News-Herald
8. Girls Golf: St. Joseph surged to the front of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West with a 179 in league play, 35 strokes better than the field – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. Girls Golf: Sturgis shot a 205 to edge Allegan by six and win its second Wolverine Conference jamboree of this season – Sturgis Journal
10. Volleyball: Hillsdale won its first matchup this fall with rival Hillsdale Academy, downing the Colts 2-1 – Hillsdale Daily News
Also of note …
Volleyball: From Saturday, Felch North Dickinson won for the first time the Great Eight Fall Classic, finishing 11-3 on the day and ahead of Iron Mountain and Kingsford (both at 8-6) – Iron Mountain 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.)