Today in the MHSAA: 11/2/17
November 2, 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. Boys Soccer: No. 5 Detroit Catholic Central downed reigning Division 1 champion and current No. 6 East Kentwood 2-1 to advance to its first MHSAA Final in this sport – Observer & Eccentric
2. Boys Soccer: No. 5 Ann Arbor Greenhills downed two-time reigning champion and current No. 14 Burton Genesee Christian 2-0 in a Division 4 Semifinal – WEYI (at 38 seconds)
3. Boys Soccer: No. 16 Ludington upended No. 4 Grand Rapids South Christian 2-1 to advance to the Division 3 Final – Ludington Daily News
4. Boys soccer: No. 15 Walled Lake Central also advanced to its first MHSAA Final in boys soccer, winning with a shootout against Troy – Oakland Press
5. Boys Soccer: No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic claimed a 1-0 win over No. 5 Detroit Country Day in a Division 3 Semifinal that went to a shootout – Detroit News
6. Boys Soccer: No. 8 Holland downed No. 7 Coldwater 3-0 in Division 2 to advance to Saturday’s Final – Holland Sentinel
7. Boys Soccer: No. 4 Kalamazoo Hackett scored all of its goals in the first half in downing No. 8 Buckley 3-1 in a Division 4 Semifinal – Cadillac News
8. Boys Soccer: Unranked East Lansing is headed back to the Division 2 championship game thanks to a 2-0 Semifinal win over Farmington Hills Harrison – Lansing State Journal
9. Volleyball: No. 8 Calumet finished a four-win run over rival Houghton this season with a four-set win in a Class C District Semifinal – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
10. Volleyball: New Baltimore Anchor Bay avenged a pair of recent heart-breaking losses to Macomb Dakota by beating the Cougars in their Class A District match; both were honorable mentions in the final rankings – Macomb Daily
Also of note …
Volleyball: Howell swept Hartland in a Class A District Semifinal, its first District win in eight years – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Football: Longtime Bay City Central coach Morley Fraser resigned after 32 seasons leading the program – Bay City Times
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.)