Today in the MHSAA: 11/4/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 4, 2022
1. VOLLEYBALL Ithaca swept Sanford Meridian in Division 3 to earn its first District championship in this sport – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
2. VOLLEYBALL Mackinaw City also won its first District title in this sport, defeating St. Ignace in four sets in Division 4 – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
3. VOLLEYBALL No. 3 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep swept top-ranked Detroit Country Day in Division 2 to clinch a 17th-straight District title – Oakland Press
4. VOLLEYBALL Frankenmuth ended Birch Run’s five-year District title run with its first championship since 2011 in a matchup of state poll honorable mentions – Saginaw News
5. VOLLEYBALL Bronson rebounded from losing the first set to defeat Centreville in four in a Division 3 District Final matchup of honorable mentions as well – Sturgis Journal
6. VOLLEYBALL No. 2 North Branch swept Croswell-Lexington to finish an 18th-straight District title run – WJRT
7. VOLLEYBALL No. 4 Clarkston came back from a 2-1 deficit to edge honorable mention Lake Orion in five sets in Division 1 – Oakland Press
8. VOLLEYBALL No. 6 Battle Creek St. Philip made it 21 straight District titles with a sweep of Battle Creek Calhoun Christian in Division 4 – Battle Creek Enquirer
9. VOLLEYBALL No. 2 Northville swept honorable mention Novi to claim a Division 1 District title – Hometown Life
10. VOLLEYBALL No. 5 Watervliet came back after losing the first set to defeat honorable mention Bridgman in four in a Division 3 District Final – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
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.)