Today in the MHSAA: 12/14/17
December 14, 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. Girls Basketball: Harper Woods Chandler Park won a major matchup, handing Flint Hamady its first loss 67-39 – Flint Journal
2. Girls Basketball: Alex Hunter went over 1,000 points for her career in leading Gaylord St. Mary past Central Lake 62-38 – Gaylord Herald Times
3. Hockey: Rivals Traverse City Central and West met and Central won 4-2, but together they brought awareness for cancer research with their “Hockey Fights Cancer Game” – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Wrestling: Grandville doubled up Grand Haven 44-22 in the Ottawa-Kent Conference – Grand Haven Tribune
5. Wrestling: White Pigeon swept Three Oaks River Valley (59-24) and Buchanan (48-30) – Sturgis Journal
6. Boys Basketball: Bad Axe bounced back from its first loss of the season Monday to get past Ubly 62-53 – Huron Daily Tribune
7. Girls Basketball: St. Ignace improved to 3-0 with a big win over Pickford – MI Sports Now
8. Girls Basketball: Six players scored at least six points as Sault Ste. Marie got past Alpena – Alpena News
9. Girls Tennis: Escanaba coach Dennis Lueneburg, who led his team to an MHSAA Finals title in 2011, has stepped down – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Football: In its latest “Legends” installment, State Champs! featured MHSAA winningest football coach John Herrington of Farmington Hills Harrison – State Champs!
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.)