Today in the MHSAA: 9/21/17
September 21, 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. Boys Soccer: A story we’ll certainly be following over the next few weeks, Lincoln Alcona goalkeeper Connor McCoy is 19 saves from setting a national high school record – Alpena News
2. Girls Golf: Bloomfield Hills, ranked No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 327 to edge No. 6 Lake Orion by only one stroke and win the Oakland County Division 1 tournament – C&G Newspapers
3. Girls Tennis: Reigning UPD1 co-runner-up Marquette claimed a pair of singles championships on the way to winning the Great Northern Conference tournament – Marquette Mining Journal
4. Girls tennis: Although play will finish today, reigning UPD1 champion Negaunee clinched the Mid-Peninsula Conference tournament title with six flight championships so far – Escanaba Daily Press
5. Boys Tennis: LPD2 No. 5 Birmingham Seaholm edged No. 6 Birmingham Groves by a point by sweeping doubles (the teams played five doubles matches to only four singles matches) – Oakland Press
6. Girls Golf: LPD3 No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North shot a 341 to finish four strokes ahead of second-place Utica Eisenhower and win the Macomb County championship tournament – Macomb Daily
7. Cross Country: Negaunee swept its annual WIN Meet titles with Colton Yesney lowering his course record to 16:19; both Miners teams are ranked No. 3 in UPD1 – Marquette Mining Journal
8. Girls Golf: LPD2 No. 3 St. Joseph clinched its sixth straight league championship by shooting a 176 to win the fourth Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West jamboree – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. Volleyball: Morley Stanwood swept Class C honorable mention White Cloud in a match for first place in the Central State Activities Association Silver – Big Rapids News
10. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 20 Buckley outshot Benzie Central by 19 but had to settle for a 1-1 tie – Cadillac 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.)