Today in the MHSAA: 2/12/18
February 12, 2018
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. Hockey: Division 3 No. 4 Houghton scored all four of its goals in the third period to come back from a 3-0 deficit and defeat top-ranked Hancock 4-3 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
2. Boys Basketball: Detroit Edison Public School Academy’s 59-51 win over reigning champion Detroit Cass Tech was the most notable of Detroit Public School League tournament games over the weekend – Detroit News
3. Girls Basketball: Midland Dow avenged a 12-point December loss to rival Midland with a 52-33 rematch win – Midland Daily News
4. Girls basketball: Schoolcraft moved to 17-0 and clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley title with a 57-39 win over Kalamazoo Hackett – JoeInsider.com
5. Girls Basketball: Posen clinched the North Star League Little Dipper title with a 47-33 win over Whittemore-Prescott – Alpena News
6. Hockey: Traverse City West downed Alpena 1-0 to claim the Big North Conference championship outright – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. Wrestling: No. 6 Hartland advanced all 14 of its wrestlers from Saturday’s Division 1 Individual District – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. Wrestling: Top-ranked Hudson also sent 14 wrestlers on to Regionals in Division 4 action – Adrian Daily Telegram
9. Boys Bowling: Gaylord earned a share of the Northern Michigan Bowling Conference championship with wins over Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace – Gaylord Herald Times
10. Hockey: Division 2 No. 6 Saline twice came back from one-goal deficits to tie No. 2 Plymouth 2-2 – Saline Post
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.)