Today in the MHSAA: 9/26/17
September 26, 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. Girls Golf: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Saline shot a 301, a record for the Southeastern Conference tournament and its second lowest ever, to win its division and the overall league title – Saline Post
2. Girls Golf: After four straight last-place finishes in its former league, Pinckney clinched the Southeastern Conference White division championship in its first year – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Boys Soccer: Ann Arbor Skyline is ranked No. 1 in Division 1 and Pioneer is unranked, but they were even Monday in a 0-0 draw – Detroit News
4. Girls Golf: Spring Lake, No. 8 in LPD2, shot a 165 to finish 10 strokes ahead of runner-up Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (No. 3 in LPD4) in Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue jamboree play – Grand Haven Tribune
5. Boys Soccer: Unranked Holland Christian avenged an earlier loss to Division 2 No. 8 Holland with a 3-1 win – Holland Sentinel
6. Girls Golf: Harbor Springs shot a school record 330 to win the Cheboygan Invitational – Petoskey News-Review
7. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 8 Detroit Catholic Central avenged an earlier 1-0 loss to Birmingham Brother Rice with a 5-2 win in the rematch – Oakland Press
8. Boys Tennis: Bay City Western improved from third in 2016 to win the Bay County Championship ahead of runner-up Essexville Garber – Bay City Times
9. Boys Soccer: Brett Dyer scored six goals for Northport in its 7-3 win over Benzonia Benzie Central – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. Volleyball: Niles Brandywine went 3-1 with wins over St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, Bridgman and Paw Paw to win Bridgman’s Invitational – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
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.)