Today in the MHSAA: 9/5/17
September 5, 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: Brighton finished atop a strong field at the Plymouth Invitational, winning in a tie-breaker over Saline and individual medalist Catherine Loftus (72) – Saline Post
2. Cross Country: In a rare downstate race for an Upper Peninsula team, Sault Ste. Marie’s girls finished third at the Ogemaw Heights Invitational while its boys were third behind champion Alpena – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
3. Volleyball: After falling to Grandville to start the round-robin schedule, Grand Haven won five straight matches and its End of Summer Bash tournament – Grand Haven Tribune
4. Cross Country: Marquette’s teams swept the Dale Phillips Invitational titles, with impressive individual championships by Negaunee’s Colton Yesney and Marquette’s Ericka Asmus against strong fields – Marquette Mining Journal
5. Boys Tennis: Clarkston edged Ada Forest Hills Eastern 16-14 to win the Traverse City Invitational – Grand Haven Tribune
6. Boys Soccer: Petoskey held Division 2 power Mason to a 0-0 tie to move to 2-3-3 this fall – Petoskey News-Review
7. Cross Country: The Yale boys and Croswell-Lexington girls won the annual Port Huron Invitational championships – Port Huron Times Herald
8. Girls Golf: South Lyon has big plans after finishing third in Lower Peninsula Division 2 last season, and Elizabeth Harding is leading the charge – Observer & Eccentric
9. Boys Soccer: Buckley is having early success this fall with contributions from a number of players who have performed on the big stage – at the Breslin Center during the Basketball Finals – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. Boys Soccer/Cross Country: We’ve published multiple stories already this school year on athletes playing multiple sports in one season – and Blissfield’s Logan Hudson does as well but with a twist; he plays multiple sports in multiple seasons – Adrian Daily Telegram
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.)