Today in the MHSAA: 10/7/20
October 7, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Girls Golf Regionals continued across the Lower Peninsula on Tuesday, joined by boys soccer league championship deciders and volleyball showdowns likely to determine eventual title winners.
1. Girls Golf: No. 4 Grand Blanc, No. 6 Brighton and No. 7 Hartland qualified from a strong Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional at Lapeer Country Club – Flint Journal
2. Girls Golf: Remus Chippewa Hills won its first Regional championship, edging runner-up Shepherd in LPD4 – Big Rapids News
3. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Morley Stanwood avenged an earlier 3-2 loss to Kent City with a 3-2 win to create a tie for first in the Central State Activities Association Silver – Big Rapids News
4. Girls Golf: No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood was first, Goodrich second and No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North third at the LPD3 Regional at Heather Hills – Macomb Daily
5. Girls Golf: Petoskey, Mount Pleasant and Midland Dow qualified from an LPD2 Regional at Pohl Cat – Petoskey News-Review
6. Boys Soccer: Muskegon Western Michigan Christian earned a share of the Lakes 8 Conference championship with a 5-2 win over Muskegon Orchard View – Local Sports Journal
7. Volleyball: Dexter maintained its lead in the Southeastern Conference White with a sweep of former co-leader Chelsea – Chelsea Sun Times News
8. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD3 No. 6 Holland Christian edged LPD2 honorable mention Holland 102-80 – Holland Sentinel
9. Girls Golf: Rockford, No. 5 Traverse City West and Traverse City Central advanced from the LPD1 Regional at Sunnybrook – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. Boys Soccer: A 3-3 draw between Division 1 No. 7 (MPR) Mattawan and Division 2 No. 12 Richland Gull Lake created a three-team tie with Division 2 No. 15 St. Joseph for first heading into the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference Tournament – WWMT
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.)