Today in the MHSAA: 10/31/18
October 31, 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.
Girls Volleyball Districts rolled on with a rivalry renewed in Division 2 and an MHSAA record tied in Division 3, along with a cross country county championship sweep from a busy Tuesday.
1. Volleyball: No. 10 Whitehall avenged 2017 District and 2018 city championship losses to No. 7 Fruitport with a sweep in a Division 2 District opener – Local Sports Journal
2. Volleyball: Nicole Schember tied the MHSAA record for single-match assists with 70 in No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing’s 3-1 win over Cass City in Division 3 – Huron Daily Tribune
3. Volleyball: Petoskey came back from two sets down and game point in the third to defeat Traverse City Central in Division 1 – Petoskey News-Review
4. Volleyball: Macomb Dakota came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse in five in Division 1 – Macomb Daily
5. Volleyball: Saginaw Valley League North champ Mount Pleasant fell in the first set to Bay City Western before coming back to win the next three in Division 1 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. Cross Country: Sturgis’ teams swept the St. Joseph County Invitational – Sturgis Journal
7. Volleyball: Marquette came back after dropping the first set to defeat Traverse City West in four – mqtathletics.com
8. Volleyball: After falling in the first set, Beaverton came back to win the next three and defeat Sanford Meridian in Division 3 – MI Sports Now
9. Volleyball: East Jordan took the final two sets of a comeback Division 3 win over Charlevoix – Petoskey News-Review
10. Volleyball: Mason swept rival Okemos in a Division 1 Regional opener – Lansing State Journal
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.)