Today in the MHSAA: 12/12/16
December 12, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
An incredible shooting performance Friday from an Upper Peninsula perimeter ace was followed Saturday by an equally incredible comeback by a top-ranked hockey team.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Boys Basketball
Iron Mountain’s Carson Wonders sank 12 of 13 3-point shots in a 72-43 win over Gwinn – the 12 3-pointers tied for third-most for one game in MHSAA history – Iron Mountain Daily News
Big Rapids’ Demetri Martin scored the 1,000th point of his career in his team’s 65-50 win over Grant – Big Rapids News
Lake Fenton needed just about all of Jalen Miller’s 34 points to get past Flint Hamady 80-76 – Flint Journal
Henry Speight put up 18 points and 15 rebounds in Saginaw’s 62-56 win over Oak Park – Saginaw News
Despite 37 points from North Farmington’s Amauri Hardy, Southfield Christian emerged with a 72-65 win at the Oakland Invitational – MLive-Detroit
Class C Manton won the Petoskey Invitational by beating a pair of Class A teams, Traverse City West on Friday and the Northmen on Saturday – Cadillac News
Girls Basketball
Sault Ste. Marie earned a key Straits Area Conference victory against a state power, downing St. Ignace 51-44 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
Hockey
Division 2 top-ranked Hartland trailed Grand Rapids Christian by four but came back to win in overtime, 6-5 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Unranked Houghton continued its surge through the week with a 6-5 overtime win over Division 1 No. 10 Utica Eisenhower on Friday followed by a 6-1 victory Saturday over Rochester – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Wrestling
For the second straight season, Division 2 No. 3 St. Johns won the Jackson Area Wrestling Showdown, as 21 teams competed in the 31-year event – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Allendale won the Mason County Central Invitational, as Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s Dawson Romanowski won his 100th career match for the runner-up – Muskegon Chronicle
Division 2 top-ranked Lowell won the Allegan Southwest Classic ahead of No. 8 Stevensville Lakeshore, Niles and Division 4 No. 2 Hudson – Adrian Daily Telegram
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.)