Today in the MHSAA: 12/8/17
December 8, 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 Basketball: Powers North Central’s record winning streak ended Thursday at 84, as Rapid River downed the Jets 65-43. It was North Central’s first loss since a Class D Quarterfinal on March 18, 2014 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
2. Boys Basketball: McBain emerged with a 62-50 win over Boyne City in a meeting of annual northern contenders – Cadillac News
3. Boys Basketball: Frankfort also won a matchup of teams usually among the best from the northern Lower Peninsula, edging Traverse City St. Francis 57-56 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Boys Basketball: Port Huron Northern trailed by as many as 17 before coming back to edge New Baltimore Anchor Bay 54-53 – Port Huron Times Herald
5. Girls Basketball: Braquelle Osborne scored with 11 seconds to play to lift Montague past Ravenna 49-47 – Local Sports Journal
6. Boys Basketball: Danny Nesburg’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds gave Charlevoix a dramatic comeback win over Bellaire – Petoskey News-Review
7. Boys Basketball: Posen’s Jared Sharpe scored with two seconds to play to pull his team past Rogers City 38-36 – Alpena News
8. Wrestling: Although only four wrestlers were able to take part, Coleman fielded its first team in more than 20 years Thursday for a home double dual – Midland Daily News
9. Girls Basketball: Muskegon Oakridge ran its West Michigan Conference winning streak to 66 with a 66-33 win over Hart – Local Sports Journal
10. Hockey: Howell handed Ann Arbor Skyline its first loss this winter thanks in part to a pair of short-handed goals by Billy Eskola – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
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.)