Today in the MHSAA: 1/12/16
January 12, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Today’s report includes our first skiing headline of this season – and make sure to check out as well a video involving the Plymouth football team and a fourth-grade student’s goal come true.
Boys Basketball
In a Monday matchup of unbeaten teams, Lake Linden-Hubbell got past Chassell 65-48 with a pair of players combining to score 52 of those points – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Bowling
From Sunday, Jackson’s girls won the Battle of the Baker tournament at M-66 Bowl in Battle Creek, beating Hartland 2-0 in the final match – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
From Saturday, Grand Haven’s teams swept the Fruitport Invitational after both qualified third to start the event but dominated the Baker games – Grand Haven Tribune
Skiing
The season got off to a late start, but there’s plenty of snow now and the Harbor Springs girls took advantage by winning the opening Grayling Invitational at Schuss Mountain – Petoskey News
Worth a Watch
We in Michigan can all use a little sunshine this time of year. This fall, Plymouth fifth-grader Connor “Sunshine” Sherman, with the help of the Plymouth High football program, put on the second Sunshine’s Skills and Drills Football Clinic for children with special needs. Here’s a look at how what started as a classroom project took off.
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.)