Today in the MHSAA: 1/19/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 19, 2023
1. WRESTLING Division 1 No. 5 Clarkston topped honorable mention Oxford 42-20 to clinch a second-straight Oakland Activities Association Red championship – Oakland Press
2. HOCKEY Division 1 No. 5 Hartland edged No. 3 Livonia Stevenson 4-3 with a late short-handed goal – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. HOCKEY Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central remained undefeated with a 6-3 win over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice – Oakland Press
4. HOCKEY Division 1 No. 4 Brighton came back from three goals down to get past No. 9 Salem 5-3 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
5. BOYS BASKETBALL Tyler Jamison set a school record with 28 rebounds in Port Huron Northern’s 74-55 win over New Haven – The Sports Report
6. HOCKEY Bryton Thaxton had a first-period hat trick in Gaylord’s 5-1 win over Petoskey – Petoskey News-Review
7. HOCKEY White Lake Lakeland edged Division 3 No. 2 Flint Powers Catholic 2-1 – Mid-Michigan Now
8. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 8 Traverse City Central downed West 3-1 to win the annual McCullough Memorial Challenge Cup – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. BOYS BASKETBALL Cass City won on the final shot for the fourth time this season, this time 47-45 over Caro – Bay City Times
10. SKIING The Benzie/Frankfort girls and Onekama boys won league meets – Benzie Record Patriot
Also of note …
FOOTBALL Coach Elliot Uzelac has resigned from Berrien Springs, his latest stop over a long and successful career – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
FOOTBALL Detroit Catholic Central has hired former captain Justin Cessante as its next coach – Detroit Free Press
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.)