Today in the MHSAA: 10/17/18
October 17, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Boys Soccer: No. 6 Okemos downed No. 2 Portage Central 3-2 in overtime in a Division 1 District opener – JoeInsider.com
2. Boys Soccer: No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian scored all of its goals during the second half to come back and down No. 4 Grand Rapids South Christian 3-1 in Division 3 – FOX 17
3. Cross Country: The Traverse City Central girls, No. 6 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, and Alpena boys claimed Big North Conference championships – Traverse City Record-Eagle | Alpena News
4. Volleyball: Livonia Churchill secured the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title with a 3-1 win over Stevenson – Observer & Eccentric
5. Boys Soccer: Travers City West scored both goals in the second half to get past rival Traverse City Central 2-1 in Division 1 – MI Sports Now
6. Cross Country: Fremont (boys LPD2 No. 5, girls No. 14) swept the final Central State Activities Association Gold meets, locking up the boys league title and sharing the girls with No. 12 Remus Chippewa Hills – Big Rapids News
7. Volleyball: Mount Pleasant downed Saginaw Heritage in four games to finish an outright Saginaw Valley League North title, its first league championship since 2006 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
8. Cross Country: The Muskegon Western Michigan Christian teams (girls LPD4 No. 3, boys No. 6) clinched Lakes 8 Conference championships, and Spring Lakes’ teams (girls LPD2 T-No. 10, boys No. 4), finished a sweep in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue – Grand Haven Tribune
9. Cross Country: The Hillsdale Academy boys and Pittsford girls (LPD4 No. 4) won Southern Central Athletic Association championship races, while Otsego’s teams (boys LPD2 No. 2, girls No. 5) swept in the Wolverine Conference – Sturgis Journal
10. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Adrian Madison locked up an outright Tri-County Conference title with a sweep of Sand Creek – Adrian Daily Telegram
Also of note:
Cross Country: From Monday, St. Ignace’s girls and Brimley’s boys finished Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference title runs – Sault Ste. Marie Evening 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.)