Today in the MHSAA: 10/13/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 13, 2022
1. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s swept Madison Heights Bishop Foley to clinch the Detroit Catholic League AA championship – Oakland Press
2. BOYS SOCCER Freeland opened Division 2 District play with a notable 5-1 win over Bullock Creek – Midland Daily News
3. BOYS SOCCER Utica Eisenhower opened Division 1 District play with a 2-0 shutout of Rochester Hills Stoney Creek – Macomb Daily
4. BOYS SOCCER Leland edged Suttons Bay 2-1 in a Division 4 District opener – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. VOLLEYBALL Lake Fenton defeated Clio in five sets, although the Mustangs’ Makayla Neelands went over 1,000 career kills – WJRT
6. BOYS SOCCER Gavyn Moore scored all three goals in Sturgis’ 3-1 Division 2 win over Niles – Sturgis Journal
7. BOYS SOCCER Battle Creek Lakeview won a playoff game for the first time since 2019, 3-0 over Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in Division 1 – Battle Creek Enquirer
8. BOYS SOCCER Romeo opened up Division 1 play with a 2-0 win over Rochester – Macomb Daily
9. BOYS SOCCER Montague edged Whitehall 2-1 in a Division 3 District opener – Local Sports Journal
10. BOYS SOCCER North Muskegon opened its Division 4 bracket with a 3-0 win over Muskegon Catholic Central – MuskegonSports.com
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.)