Today in the MHSAA: 1/8/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 8, 2024
1. WRESTLING Birch Run claimed its seventh-straight Saginaw County championship – Saginaw News
2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Brownstown Woodhaven, Division 2 No. 2 Allen Park and Division 3 No. 2 Grosse Ile won championships at the Allen Park Invitational – Southgate News-Herald
3. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 7 Hancock downed Division 1 No. 3 Brighton 5-1 on Friday and Capital City 3-2 on Saturday – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
4. WRESTLING MaryAlice Lynch became one of the first few to reach 100 career wins, doing so during her team’s Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central Tournament – Monroe News
5. WRESTLING Division 4 No. 4 Benzie Central finished nearly 100 points ahead of the field in winning the Escanaba Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 2 Trenton downed No. 6 Allen Park 4-2 – Southgate News-Herald
7. BOYS BASKETBALL Luke Gelow went over 1,000 career points in Gaylord’s 62-59 loss to Petoskey – Petoskey News-Review
8. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Spring Lake – No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – was first and Holt second as the former won its invitational – Grand Haven Tribune
9. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 10 Jackson Lumen Christi edged No. 8 Grand Rapids Catholic Central 3-2 – Jackson Citizen Patriot
10. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills’ Craig Hureskin scored 51 points in his team’s 92-59 win over Wayland – Grand Rapids Press
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.)