Today in the MHSAA: 10/21/16
October 21, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Arguably the biggest upset of a week’s worth of unexpected results highlighted Thursday’s statewide soccer action, as the top-ranked team in Division 1 was eliminated during District play.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Cross Country
The Milford girls and White Lake Lakeland boys (both No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 1) won Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes meet titles – Oakland Press
The powerhouse Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart girls (No. 1 in LPD4) and boys (No. 9) teams finished off Mid-State Activities Conference championships – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Wyandotte Roosevelt swept the boys and girls Downriver League titles – Southgate News-Herald
The Rockford girls (No. 14 LPD1) and boys (No. 9) swept Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championships – Holland Sentinel
Boys Soccer
Saline, No. 11 in Division 1, upset top-ranked Ann Arbor Skyline 1-0 to earn a District championship after losing to Skyline twice during the regular season – Saline Post
Division 4 No. 18 Kalamazoo Hackett shut out rival Kalamazoo Christian to claim a District title – Kalamazoo Gazette
Bay City John Glenn advanced to its first District Final since 1990 with a 2-1 win over Bay City Central – Bay City Times
Division 2 No. 12 Marshall upset No. 7 Coldwater 2-1 in overtime in a semifinal – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Volleyball
Class D No. 8 North Adams-Jerome clinched a Southern Central Athletic Association championship with a win over honorable mention Camden-Frontier – Hillsdale 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.)