Today in the MHSAA: 1/23/19
January 23, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The last few weeks have been filled with basketball players setting school scoring records or going over 1,000 career points – and Tuesday saw four more join that mix.
1. Girls Basketball: Sophia Wiard scored 30 points and broke the Muskegon Oakridge career record of 1,586 in her team’s big win over Montague – Muskegon Chronicle
2. Boys Basketball: Chris DeRocher broke the Alpena career scoring record of 1,436 points with his 29th and final in a big win over Sault Ste. Marie – Alpena News
3. Boys Basketball: TJ McKenzie scored 23 points to go over 1,000 for his career in North Muskegon’s 69-42 win over Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – Local Sports Journal
4. Girls Basketball: Scout Nelson scored a school-record 43 points to lead Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart past Beal City – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
5. Girls Basketball: Rochester won a matchup of first-place teams in the Oakland Activities Association Blue, 46-33 over Berkley – Oakland Press
6. Boys Basketball: Wyoming Potter’s House Christian improved to 11-1 with a 54-53 win over Alliance League rival Wyoming Tri-unity Christian – FOX17
7. Boys Basketball: Saginaw Swan Valley delivered Alma its first defeat this season, 61-60 in overtime – Saginaw News
8. Boys Basketball: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley upset Macomb Dakota 64-57, knocking Dakota out of a tie for first in the Macomb Area Conference Red – Macomb Daily
9. Girls Basketball: Gladstone held on late for a 40-36 upset of Menominee – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Boys Basketball: Cadillac gave McBain the latter’s second loss of this winter, 44-38 – MI Sports Now
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.)