Today in the MHSAA: 10/6/20
October 7, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Girls Golf Regionals teed off in the Lower Peninsula on Monday, with a number of highlights adding to a day that also saw Negaunee win the Upper Peninsula Division 1 girls tennis title (see “Latest Posts at right).
1. Girls Golf: St. Joseph shot a 358 to win its fifth straight Regional, in Lower Peninsula Division 2 at Yankee Springs – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
2. Girls Golf: Whitehall claimed its first Regional title since 2011, with No. 3 Big Rapids second and No. 5 Ada Forest Hills Eastern third in LPD3; and top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern won its Regional in LPD2 ahead of second-place East Grand Rapids and third-place and No. 6 Muskegon Mona Shores – Muskegon Chronicle
3. Girls Golf: No. 8 Flint Powers Catholic, Cheboygan and Freeland advanced from the LPD3 Regional at Flint Golf Club – Flint Journal
4. Boys Soccer: North Muskegon earned a share of the West Michigan Conference title with a 3-2 win over Division 2 No. 9 (MPR) Whitehall – Muskegon Chronicle
5. Boys Tennis: LPD2 No. 13 Traverse City Central claimed five flight titles to win the Big North Conference Tournament and overall championship – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. Boys Tennis: LPD3 No. 7 Holland Christian defeated Spring Lake 6-2 in the championship match to claim the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue title – Holland Sentinel
7. Boys Soccer: Oscoda downed Fairview 8-2 to clinch the North Star League championship – WBKB
8. Cross Country: Marquette’s teams swept the Gladstone Invitational races – Iron Mountain Daily News
9. Boys Tennis: LPD4 No. 9 (tied) Whitehall, No. 8 North Muskegon and No. 9 (tied) Ludington took the top three spots, all within 1-2 points of each other, at the Coastal Conference quad – Local Sports Journal
10. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran improved to 17-2 with wins over Corunna, Durand and Frankenmuth – Saginaw 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.)