Today In The MHSAA: 10/1/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 1, 2021
1. GIRLS GOLF Northville – top-ranked in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 302 to edge No. 2 Plymouth by a stroke and win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Tournament – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. BOYS TENNIS Milan won the Huron League Tournament to lock up its first overall league championship in the sport – Monroe News
3. BOYS TENNIS LPD2 No. 8 Midland Dow won seven of eight flights to clinch its 16th-straight Saginaw Valley League Tournament title – Midland Daily News
4. GIRLS GOLF LPD3 No. 7 Grosse Ile shot a 325 to win the Huron League Tournament – Monroe News
5. GIRLS GOLF Shepherd finished a repeat title run in the Mid-Michigan Golf Conference with a league tournament win – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. BOYS TENNIS Traverse City Central edged Petoskey by five points to win the Big North Conference Tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 14 Ludington clinched the outright Lakes 8 Activities Conference title with a shutout of Muskegon Orchard View – Ludington Daily News
8. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 4 Centreville took over first place alone in the Southwest 10 Conference with a five-set win over Mendon – Sturgis Journal
9. VOLLEYBALL Zeeland East came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Zeeland West in five and take over first alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green – Holland Sentinel
10. BOYS SOCCER Pontiac maintained its league lead, downing Auburn Hills Avondale 3-1 in Oakland Activities Association Blue play – Oakland Press
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.)