Today in the MHSAA: 11/17/17
November 17, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Volleyball: No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian avenged a pair of losses to rival and No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy by advancing in a Class A Semifinal on Thursday – Observer & Eccentric
2. Volleyball: Class D No. 6 Fowler will play in its first MHSAA championship match in this sport after downing honorable mention Munising in a Semifinal – Lansing State Journal
3. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion and current No. 2 Novi avenged one of its few losses this season with a Semifinal win over DeWitt – Oakland Press
4. Volleyball: Reigning champion and top-ranked Plymouth Christian Academy got past No. 8 Rogers City in four sets in Class D – Observer & Eccentric
5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Port Huron’s area qualifiers are highlighted, led by St. Clair’s Molly Likins – Port Huron Times Herald
6. Girls Swimming & Diving: Adrian and Tecumseh both are sending seven athletes to MHSAA Finals as part of Lenawee County’s qualifiers – Adrian Daily Telegram
7. Volleyball: A talented pair of middle blockers has Fruitport headed back to the Class B Semifinals – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Hockey: Sean Clark has taken over as coach at Warren DeLaSalle, the reigning Division 3 champion – Macomb Daily
9. Hockey: Sault Ste. Marie is working to replace nine graduates from last season’s team that finished 19-8 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
10. Football: Riverview’s Tyler Dively surely is enjoying his team’s turnaround season, but he’s also playing with thoughts of his older brother Ron, battling leukemia, heavy on his mind – Southgate News Herald
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.)