Today in the MHSAA: 11/8/17
November 8, 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: Class D No. 8 Rogers City and No. 2 Leland traded sets before Rogers City emerged with a five-game win in their Regional Semifinal – Alpena News
2. Volleyball: Top-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep will meet No. 2 North Branch in a Regional Final thanks to Tuesday wins, the Irish’s over No. 7 Marysville and North Branch’s over Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press
3. Volleyball: Class D honorable mention Muskegon Catholic Central downed No. 4 Fife Lake Forest Area in five sets in their Regional Semifinal – Local Sports Journal
4. Volleyball: Beaverton, coming off first league and District titles, will play for a first Regional title as well after a five-set win over honorable mention Ravenna in Class C – Midland Daily News
5. Volleyball: Fruitport won a matchup of Class B honorable mentions in four sets over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Grand Haven Tribune
6. Volleyball: Class A No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian and No. 8 Clarkston will meet for a Regional title after winning their Regional Semifinals, Marian over honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and Clarkston over Troy – Oakland Press
7. Volleyball: Unranked South Lyon swept honorable mention Ann Arbor Huron to move on in Class A – Observer & Eccentric
8. Volleyball: Alma advanced to its first Regional Final since 2007 by coming back to beat Gladwin in four sets in Class B – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
9. Volleyball: Honorable mention Cadillac swept Sault Ste. Marie, a champion of two leagues this fall, to advance in Class B – Cadillac News
10. Volleyball: Whitmore Lake earned the opportunity to play for a first Regional title with a 3-1 win over Jackson Lumen Christi in Class C – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
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.)