Today In The MHSAA: 10/6/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 6, 2021
1. GIRLS GOLF No. 5 Byron Center shot a 339 to win its Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional, followed by No. 9 Battle Creek Lakeview and No. 3 Richland Gull Lake – Coldwater Daily Reporter
2. BOYS SOCCER Pinckney defeated Ypsilanti Community 2-0 to clinch the Southeastern Conference White title, its second league title ever and first since 1999 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. BOYS SOCCER Traverse City West defeated Central 2-1 to clinch a share of the Big North Conference title, the Titans’ 20th – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. GIRLS GOLF Top-ranked Montague, No. 2 Remus Chippewa Hills and Traverse City St. Francis advanced from the LPD4 Regional at Katke GC – Big Rapids Pioneer
5. VOLLEYBALL No. 3 Battle Creek St. Philip swept top-ranked Athens in a matchup of contenders in Division 4 – Battle Creek Enquirer
6. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 3 Fenton secured an outright Flint Metro League championship with a draw against Goodrich – WJRT
7. BOYS SOCCER Caleb Caballero scored three of Division 1 No. 13 East Lansing’s goals in a 4-0 Capital Area Activities Conference Gold Cup semifinal win over Division 2 No. 15 DeWitt – Lansing State Journal
8. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian swept No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy for the second time this fall – Observer & Eccentric
9. GIRLS GOLF No. 7 Flint Powers Catholic, No. 9 Freeland and Cheboygan took the top three spots, respectively, at the LPD3 Regional at Pine River Country Club – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
10. BOYS SOCCER Jack Guggemos broke the Division 1 No. 5 Okemos single-season scoring record in leading his team to a 5-2 CAAC Gold Cup semifinal win over Mason – 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.)