Today in the MHSAA: 12/2/16
December 2, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We love looking back at high school sports history, and events like Midland Dow hockey’s 40th anniversary always draw a crowd – especially when members of the school's original team join the celebration, as they did Thursday.
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.
Girls Basketball
Ann Arbor Huron got its first win under new coach Lindsay Klemmer, 51-28 over Tecumseh – Ann Arbor News
Bay City John Glenn graduated two of its top scorers from last season’s Class B semifinalist team, but returns point guard Kalle Martinez, who starred in a 55-42 win over Davison – Bay City Times
L’Anse – with only six players including three freshmen this season – moved to 2-0 with a 56-32 win over Lake Linden-Hubbell – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Detroit East English’s C’Erra Maholmes scored 34 points to lead her team to a 50-31 win over Detroit Cody – Detroit News
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North got off on the right foot after a down year last season, opening with a 46-35 win over St. Clair – Macomb Daily
Hockey
Painesdale-Jeffers and Kingsford played to a 5-5 tie Thursday, but the Jets forced it by coming back from a 3-0 deficit – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Midland Dow downed Bay Area 5-0 after a 40th anniversary celebration of the school’s first team that saw coach Al Quick and eight players return – Midland Daily News
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.)