Today In The MHSAA: 10/12/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 12, 2021
1. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 9 Spring Lake downed Division 3 No. 3 Hudsonville Unity Christian 4-1 to claim the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue Tournament championship – Grand Haven Tribune
2. GIRLS GOLF LPD4 top-ranked Montague shot a 347 to win the Traverse City Central Invitational, and the Trojans took second to clinch the Big North Conference title – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. GIRLS GOLF Macomb Lutheran North – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – shot a 332 to repeat as Macomb County champion – Macomb Daily
4. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Adrian Madison set a Tri-County Conference record with its 49th-consecutive league win, a sweep of Ottawa Lake Whiteford – Adrian Daily Telegram
5. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 2 Grosse Ile locked up the Huron League Tournament title with a 4-0 win over New Boston Huron – Southgate News-Herald
6. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 10 Holland finished an outright O-K Green title run with a 3-2 overtime win over Grand Rapids Union – Holland Sentinel
7. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 9 Midland Dow moved to 18-1 overall and finished a perfect Saginaw Valley League run with a 3-1 win over Flint Powers Catholic – Midland Daily News
8. BOYS SOCCER Bloomfield Hills finished its Oakland Activities Association Blue title run with a 3-1 win over Auburn Hills Avondale – Oakland Press
9. CROSS COUNTRY The UPD3 No. 3 Munising girls and Stephenson boys were champions at the Norway Invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News
10. VOLLEYBALL Buchanan twice came back from one-set deficits to defeat St. Joseph in five – Niles Daily Star
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.)