Today In The MHSAA: 9/27/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 27, 2021
1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Ann Arbor Pioneer – the top-ranked team in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – won duals over No. 2 Northville, LPD2 No. 1 Birmingham Seaholm and LPD3 No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood at a Northville Invitational featuring all three of last year’s Lower Peninsula Finals winners – We Love Ann Arbor
2. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 3 Holland Christian was first and No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian second at the Division 3 Midseason Invitational – Holland Sentinel
3. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD2 honorable mention Midland Dow followed Ella Roberson’s lead in winning the Tri Cities Championship – Midland Daily News
4. GIRLS GOLF Spring Lake won a Ludington Invitational that saw the top five teams separated by 17 strokes with a field that included the reigning LPD3 champion – Local Sports Journal
5. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Pewamo-Westphalia defeated Division 2 No. 8 Cadillac 2-1 to win the Gold division of the East Grand Rapids Invitational – Cadillac News
6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 honorable mentions Trenton and Grosse Ile posted the top two team finishes, respectively, at the Downriver Classic – Southgate News-Herald
7. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Niles swept Portage Northern, Division 3 No. 9 Bronson and Schoolcraft in a Saturday quad – Niles Daily Star
8. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 1 Ann Arbor Pioneer, Tecumseh and LPD3 No. 5 Jackson Lumen Christi girls and LPD1 No. 9 Traverse City Central, UPD1 No. 2 Sault Ste. Marie and Stockbridge boys won Jackson Invitational championships – Athletic.net
9. VOLLEYBALL Marquette won every set in claiming its nine-team Redette Rumble championship – Marquette Mining Journal
10. BOYS TENNIS LPD3 No. 7 Sturgis swept and shut out LPD4 No. 5 Big Rapids and Williamston – Sturgis Journal
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.)