Today in the MHSAA: 9/22/16
September 22, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A trio of local golf titles and some league bragging rights in volleyball were on the line Wednesday – and the results were a mix of close and dominating finishes.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Girls Golf
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, won the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association city meet by 39 strokes, breaking Mona Shores’ eight-year hold on the title – Muskegon Chronicle
Division 1 No. 1 Rochester continued its powerful run shooting a 310 to win the Oakland County championship by eight strokes – Oakland Press
Macomb Lutheran North won its third straight Macomb County championship, shooting a 311 to win by 44 strokes – Macomb Daily
Boys Soccer
The rivalry game for the Portage Derby trophy between Division 1 No. 1 Portage Northern and No. 14 Portage Central ended in a 1-1 tie – Kalamazoo Gazette
Girls Swimming & Diving
From Tuesday, White Lake Lakeland had five swimmers win multiple events in downing Grand Blanc in a matchup of honorable mentions in LP Division 1 – Observer & Eccentric
Boys Tennis
Parma Western, tied for the No. 10 spot in Division 3 this week, downed rival Jackson Lumen Christi 6-2 – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Volleyball
Saginaw Swan Valley, an honorable mention in Class B, downed Bullock Creek in four sets to move to 19-5-2 – Saginaw News
Class B No. 4 Cadillac dealt Petoskey only its second loss with a 3-0 sweep in the Big North Conference – Cadillac News
Class C No. 2 Bronson just got past Class D No. 2 Mendon in three sets: 30-28, 25-21 and 27-25 – Sturgis Journal
Good Read
From South Sudan, to China, to Iowa to Battle Creek, Central first-year volleyball coach Winnie Lejukole has traveled far on her way to taking over the Bearcats this fall – Battle Creek Enquirer
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.)