Today in the MHSAA: 10/16/17
October 16, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Boys Tennis: No. 2-ranked Novi followed up a one-point league tournament win over No. 4 Northville by finishing five points ahead of the Mustangs to win a sixth straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional title – Observer & Eccentric
2. Cross Country: Lansing Catholic swept championships at the Greater Lansing Invitational, which includes mid-Michigan schools from all classes for one race; the boys are tied for No. 2 in LPD2 and the girls are No. 3 – Lansing State Journal Girls | Boys
3. Cross Country: The LPD1 No. 3 Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and No. 4 Saline boys defeated loaded Ann Arbor River Rat Open fields, Pioneer two points ahead of LPD1 No. 2 Northville and Saline ahead of host Huron – Athletic.net
4. Cross Country: Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Karenna Duffey won her fourth Macomb County Invitational title; Romeo swept the team championships, and its boys are No. 3 in LPD1 – Macomb Daily
5. Cross Country: Essexville Garber’s boys ended Bay City Western’s 11-year winning streak at the Bay County Championship; Western’s girls, an honorable mention in LPD1, won a sixth straight title – Bay City Times
6. Volleyball: Escanaba gained a share of its first league title since 2003 by winning the Great Northern Conference tournament – Escanaba Daily Press
7. Volleyball: After falling to Muskegon Mona Shores in the 2016 final, Class B honorable mention Fruitport swept the Sailors in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament championship match; the final two sets were won by only two points apiece – Muskegon Chronicle
8. Cross Country: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s girls and Fruitport’s boys won GMAA city championships, Fruitport led by a meet record setter – Muskegon Chronicle
9. Cross Country: The Harbor Springs boys and LPD3 No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis girls won Lake Michigan Conference championships – Petoskey News-Review
10. Volleyball: Centreville went undefeated on the day and upset Class C honorable mention Mendon in the final to win the Southwest 10 Conference tournament title – Sturgis Journal
Also of note:
Volleyball: Class C No. 9 Adrian Madison survived a close championship match with Onsted to repeat as Lenawee County champion – Adrian Daily Telegram
Boys Tennis: From Thursday, LPD1 No. 10 Hudsonville advanced to its first MHSAA Finals since 1994 and carries a 26-0-2 record this fall – Grand Rapids Press
Boys Tennis: From Thursday, top-ranked Okemos and East Lansing took the top two spots at the LPD2 Regional at East Lansing, but third-place Pinckney also qualified for the Finals for the first time – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Tennis: From Thursday and Friday, LPD2 No. 3 Birmingham Seaholm edged No. 2 Birmingham Groves by three points to win their Regional – Oakland Press
Volleyball: Battle Creek Lakeview swept Harper Creek to win the All-City Tournament for the second straight season – Battle Creek Enquirer
Cross Country: The Adrian boys and Tecumseh girls won Lenawee County championships – Adrian Daily Telegram
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.)