Today in the MHSAA: 10/12/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 12, 2023
1. VOLLEYBALL After losing the first set, Division 1 honorable mention South Lyon East came back to win in four over South Lyon and clinch the Lakes Valley Conference title outright – Oakland Press
2. VOLLEYBALL Traverse City Central clinched a share of the Big North Conference championship with a sweep of Cadillac – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. BOYS SOCCER Logan Korson broke Bullock Creek’s career goals record in his team’s Division 3 District win over Standish-Sterling – Midland Daily News
4. GIRLS GOLF No. 6 DeWitt shot a 341 to edge No. 3 Mason by four strokes and win a Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional title – Lansing State Journal
5. BOYS SOCCER Holly won its first District game since 2017, defeating North Branch 7-4 in Division 2 – WJRT
6. GIRLS GOLF No. 7 Goodrich carded a 347 to win its LPD3 Regional, with No. 10 Freeland second – Saginaw News
7. BOYS SOCCER A second-half surge sent top-ranked Berkley past Royal Oak 3-1 in a Division 1 District opener – Oakland Press
8. BOYS SOCCER St. Joseph began another Division 2 District title quest with a 2-1 win over Coldwater – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. BOYS SOCCER New Boston Huron scored twice over the final 12 minutes to get past Allen Park 3-2 in a Division 2 District opener – Southgate News-Herald
10. BOYS SOCCER Howard City Tri County defeated Reed City 3-2 for the second-straight time this season, this time in a Division 3 District opener – Greenville Daily News
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.)