Today in the MHSAA: 9/14/22
September 14, 2022
1. VOLLEYBALL Fruitport won the final two sets to defeat Division 2 No. 7 Hudsonville Unity Christian in five – MuskegonSports.com
2. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 honorable mention Novi came back after losing the fourth set to defeat Brighton in five – Oakland Press
3. BOYS SOCCER Arif Ahmed scored three goals to lead Coldwater past Marshall for the first time since 2017, 4-3 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
4. CROSS COUNTRY Hart swept the inaugural West Michigan Conference Rivers jamborees; Hart’s boys are No. 1 and its girls No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – Ludington Daily News
5. CROSS COUNTRY Benzie Central swept the opening Northwest Conference jamborees; Benzie’s boys are No. 6 in LPD3, and its girls are No. 11 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. GIRLS GOLF Big Rapids edged Remus Chippewa Hills by four strokes to pull within one more jamboree win of sweeping in the Central State Activities Association – Big Rapids Pioneer
7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 3 Holland Christian outpaced Holland, led by a courageous all-stater who’s back in the pool this fall after a year away – Holland Sentinel
8. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 11 Flint Powers Catholic got past Davison 3-1 in Saginaw Valley League play – WJRT
9. CROSS COUNTRY The Midland Dow girls and Saginaw Heritage boys won the last Saginaw Valley League jamborees; both teams are honorable mentions in LPD1 – Midland Daily News
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Ludington girls, and Fremont and Whitehall boys (tied) won the first West Michigan Conference Lakes jamborees – Local Sports Journal
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.)