Today in the MHSAA: 9/25/18
September 25, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Girls Golf: Big Rapids, No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 3, shot a 374 to win the Lady Tullymore Invitational ahead of LPD4 No. 5 Kalamazoo Hackett and No. 6 St. Louis – Big Rapids News
2. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 10 Traverse City West shot a 309 to win the Cheboygan Invitational, as runner-up and LPD4 No. 4 Harbor Springs set a school record with a 326 and Petoskey carded its lowest individual score ever – Petoskey News-Review
3. Girls Golf: Pinckney repeated as Southeastern Conference White champion after finishing second to Ann Arbor Pioneer at the league tournament that included both divisions – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 5 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek shot a 336 to win the Midland Dow Invitational – Midland Daily News
5. Girls Golf: Bay City Central stood against strong winds to win its third straight Bay County championship – Bay City Times
6. Girls Tennis: Reigning UPD2 champion Ishpeming Westwood got a boost from its No. 4 doubles in edging reigning UPD1 runner-up Marquette 5-3 – Marquette Mining Journal
7. Boys Soccer: Brody Hoffman had two goals and three assists in Division 4 No. 9 North Muskegon’s win over Saugatuck – Local Sports Journal
8. Volleyball: Gladstone came back from two sets down to defeat Marquette in five – the last three sets all by two points – Escanaba Daily Press
9. Boys Soccer: Utica Eisenhower downed Utica 4-1 to take control of the Macomb Area Conference Red – Macomb Daily
10. Boys Soccer: Division 3 No. 6 Grand Rapids South Christian held on for a 0-0 tie with East Kentwood – FOX 17
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.)