Today in the MHSAA: 10/10/17
October 10, 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. Boys Tennis: Kalamazoo Christian, tied for No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 4, netted the championship at the combined Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph and Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
2. Boys Tennis: Byron Center closed out an Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship just ahead of LPD3 No. 9 Zeeland East – Holland Sentinel
3. Boys Tennis: LPD4 No. 8 Ludington closed out an outright Coastal Conference championship by finishing four points ahead of runner-up Whitehall at the league tournament – Ludington Daily News
4. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 3 Leland clinched the Northwest Conference championship with a 5-1 win over Northport, which went into an interesting attack mode late trying to get the win and stay in the race – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. Girls Cross Country: Calumet freshman Clarity Gipp won the West Iron County Invitational just ahead of Chassell star Lela Rautiola; Chassell’s LPD3 No. 1 girls and Houghton’s LPD1 No. 1 boys won the team titles – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
6. Boys Tennis: LPD1 No. 10 Hudsonville also won an O-K league title, claiming the Red just ahead of Grandville – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Boys Soccer: Unranked Hartland won its seventh straight game, this time upsetting No. 9 Northville 1-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. Boys Soccer: Big Rapids moved into first place alone in the Central State Activities Association Gold with a 2-1 win over Newaygo, which had beaten Big Rapids earlier this season – Big Rapids News
9. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 17 Grand Haven improved to 10-3-3 with a 1-0 win over Rockford – Local Sports Journal
10. Track & Field: Livonia Churchill announced it will dedicate Friday its stadium field to first athletic director Larry Joiner and the track to successful coach Rick Austin – Observer & Eccentric
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.)