Today in the MHSAA: 10/13/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 13, 2023
1. BOYS SOCCER South Lyon East took Novi to a sixth round of penalty kicks in winning their Division 1 District opener – Oakland Press
2. CROSS COUNTRY The Saugatuck boys – No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – and No. 4 Gobles girls won Southwestern Athletic Conference championships – Holland Sentinel
3. BOYS TENNIS Top-ranked Midland Dow clinched a 15th-straight Regional title with a perfect score in LPD2 – Midland Daily News
4. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 6 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s swept Macomb Lutheran North to win the Detroit Catholic League Central Tournament championship – Oakland Press
5. BOYS TENNIS No. 2 Traverse City St. Francis was first, No. 4 Ludington second and No. 6 Maple City Glen Lake also qualified from their LPD4 Regional – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. VOLLEYBALL Division 4 honorable mention Clarkston Everest Collegiate swept Ann Arbor Greenhills to clinch the Catholic League St. Anne Tournament title – Oakland Press
7. BOYS SOCCER No. 2 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian downed Muskegon Catholic Central 2-0 in a Division 4 District opener – Local Sports Journal
8. BOYS SOCCER Parma Western defeated Jackson 2-1 in overtime in a Division 2 District game – Jackson Citizen Patriot
9. BOYS SOCCER No. 15 Brighton edged Okemos 1-0 in a Division 1 District soccer matchup – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Manistee girls and LPD3 No. 5 Reed City boys won Chris Grabowski Memorial Invitational championships – Manistee News-Advocate | Big Rapids Pioneer
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.)