Today in the MHSAA: 12/15/17
December 15, 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. Boys Swimming & Diving: Holland Christian’s Skyler Cook-Weeks broke two of his program’s oldest records during his Lower Peninsula Division 3 top-ranked team’s dual meet win over LPD1 honorable mention Grand Haven – Holland Sentinel
2. Bowling: Battle Creek Pennfield’s boys and girls teams continued their local dominance with All-City championships – Battle Creek Enquirer
3. Girls Basketball: Romeo took a big step with a 44-33 win over annual power Port Huron Northern – Macomb Daily
4. Boys Basketball: Cale Mickelson knocked down a shot as time expired to lead Cadillac past Traverse City St. Francis 50-49 – Cadillac News
5. Hockey: Lake Orion ran its winning streak to six with a 3-0 win over Farmington – Oakland Press
6. Boys Basketball: Pellston moved to 4-0 with another close finish, outlasting Indian River Inland Lakes 61-60 – Petoskey News-Review
7. Girls Basketball: Ishpeming remained undefeated with a 60-47 win over Escanaba – ABC 10
8. Girls Basketball: Hillman opened on with 11-0 run on the way to a 53-37 win over rival Posen – Alpena News
9. Boys Basketball: Brad Sirard scored 35 points to lead Houghton past rival Hancock 64-31 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
10. Boys Basketball: Bear Lake continued its perfect start with a 36-point win over Custer Mason County Eastern – Manistee News Advocate
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.)