Today in the MHSAA: 10/7/16
October 7, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Tennis teams joined golf in playing Lower Peninsula Regionals on Thursday, with the top teams in Division 3 matching up for the second week in a row – and this time with a different result.
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
St. Clair dominated the Marysville Invitational as both the boys (No. 6 in LPD2) and girls (tied for No. 8) won championships, the undefeated boys ahead of No. 12 Croswell-Lexington and the girls ahead of New Baltimore Anchor Bay – Port Huron Times Herald
Four top-ranked teams won titles at the Gladstone Invitational: the Negaunee boys and Marquette girls in Division 1 and Ishpeming boys and girls in Division 2 – Escanaba Daily Press
Girls Golf
Division 1 No. 7 Lake Orion edged No. 4 Bloomfield Hills by nine strokes to win with 344 – Oakland Press
Stevensville Lakeshore advanced to the MHSAA Finals for the first time in six seasons after winning its Division 3 Regional. – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Boys Soccer
Division 4 No. 16 Harbor Springs scored twice during the final 18 minutes to down Division 3 No. 12 Charlevoix in Lake Michigan Conference play – Petoskey News
Division 1 No. 4 Ann Arbor Skyline improved to 15-0 with a 5-0 win over Monroe after leading 1-0 at the break – Detroit News
Boys Tennis
No. 5 St. Joseph won its 18th Regional title in 20 seasons, finishing ahead of No. 10 Coldwater in Division 3 by scoring 31 of a possible 32 points – Kalamazoo Gazette
After falling to No. 2 Detroit Country Day in a dual last week, top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood came back to win their Division 3 Regional – Oakland Press
Volleyball
Unranked Camden-Frontier earned a split with Class D No. 7 Pittsford in Southern Central Athletic Association play – Hillsdale Daily News
Class A No. 10 Macomb Dakota came back from a 2-0 deficit to down Marysville in five games – Clinton Township Voice
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.)