Today in the MHSAA: 9/18/19
September 18, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Zeeland girls swimming & diving team and Brighton boys and Northville girls cross country teams are among many who have made big impressions this fall, and they are followed on today's list by a number of others starting to make state poll voters take notice.
1. Girls Swimming & Diving: Unranked Zeeland continued its extraordinary start to this season, this time defeating Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 4 Rockford 100-86 – Holland Sentinel
2. Cross Country: The LPD1 top-ranked Brighton boys defeated No. 8 Salem and No. 14 Northville, and the No. 3 Northville girls beat No. 4 Salem in a tie-breaker and also No. 8 Brighton as powerhouse programs clashed at Huron Meadows – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 2 Hamilton got past honorable mention Holland Christian in four sets, the fourth going to 32-30 – Holland Sentinel
4. Boys Soccer: Unranked Rochester Adams earned an impressive draw against Division 1 No. 10 Berkley – Oakland Press
5. Boys Soccer: Dexter moved into first place alone in the Southeastern Conference White with a 2-1 win over now second-place Tecumseh – Chelsea Sun Times News
6: Boys Soccer: Traverse City West earned a key Big North Conference win 7-0 over Division 2 No. 14 Alpena – Alpena News
7. Volleyball: Mount Pleasant moved to 22-4-1 with a sweep of Midland – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
8. Boys Soccer: Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard scored late to get past Ann Arbor Greenhills 1-0 and improve to 8-2-1 – We Love Ann Arbor
9. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Manistique lost the first set by two but won the next three to get past Gwinn – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Boys Tennis: Brownstown Woodhaven and Trenton both remain unbeaten as the Downriver League contenders tied 4-4 – Southgate News-Herald
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.)