Today In The MHSAA: 9/16/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 16, 2021
1. BOYS SOCCER Undefeated Saline handed Ann Arbor Pioneer its first defeat, 2-1 in Southeastern Conference Red play – Saline Post
2. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 5 Cadillac won the final two sets to get past Traverse City Central in five – Cadillac News
3. GIRLS GOLF Traverse City Central shot a 348 to win the Ogemaw Heights Invitational – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
4. BOYS SOCCER Ogemaw Heights gave Division 4 No. 7 McBain Northern Michigan Christian its first loss, 2-0 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 15 Clio handed Owosso its first defeat in league play and second overall, 3-0 – WJRT
6. BOYS SOCCER Armando Sanchez scored four goals for Fennville in its shutout of Saugatuck – Holland Sentinel
7. BOYS SOCCER Nathan Isbrecht scored all four goals in Watervliet’s shutout of Coloma – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
8. BOYS SOCCER Reigning Downriver League champion held off a rising contender in Lincoln Park, 2-0 – Southgate News-Herald
9. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Morley Stanwood earned a seventh-straight win with a sweep of Hesperia – Big Rapids Pioneer
10. BOYS SOCCER Grand Blanc also showed its defensive potential with a 2-0 shutout of Flint Powers Catholic – Flint Journal
Also of note …
PORTAGE NOTHERN A star basketball and soccer player at Portage Northern who later played both at Northwestern, Lisa Byington then launched a successful broadcasting career and now will become the first fulltime female play-by-play announcer for a men’s professional sports team in MLB, NFL, NBA or NHL when she begins as the Milwaukee Bucks’ lead voice this season – Holland Sentinel
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.)