Today in the MHSAA: 2/12/20
February 12, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Tuesday saw a mix of personal milestones with record book implications and massive hoops matchups that continued to shift league standings with only a few weeks remaining in this regular season.
1. Boys Basketball: Wyoming’s Menalito McGee and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s Ethan Erickson earned spots in the MHSAA record book for single-game 3-pointers in their teams’ Tuesday victories – Grand Rapids Press
2. Boys Basketball: Erie Mason’s Joe Liedel scored 37 points in a 63-38 win over Brooklyn Columbia Central to set the Monroe County Region career scoring record at 1,951 – Monroe News
3. Girls Basketball: Saginaw Heritage shook up the Saginaw Valley League standings with a 56-39 win over formerly first-place Midland – Midland Daily News
4. Boys Swimming & Diving: Collin Che set Midland Dow school and pool records in the 100-yard butterfly in his team’s 138-42 win over Midland; Dow is ranked No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – Midland Daily News
5. Boys Basketball: Detroit Douglass advanced to the Detroit Public School League Tournament final with a 76-46 win over Detroit Martin Luther King – Detroit News
6. Girls Basketball: Williamston earned a major win on a buzzer beater, 37-35 over DeWitt – Lansing State Journal
7. Girls Basketball: Trenton moved into first place alone in the Downriver League with a 44-37 overtime win over Lincoln Park – Southgate News-Herald
8. Boys Basketball: Hopkins moved into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver with a 66-60 win over Grandville Calvin Christian – FOX 17
9. Girls Basketball: Walled Lake Western held on to first place alone in the Lakes Valley Conference with a 44-37 win over Waterford Mott – State Champs Sports Network
10. Boys Basketball: A last-second put-back gave Posen a 47-46 win over previously one-loss Hale – Alpena News
Also of note …
Girls Basketball: Freeland’s Kadyn Blanchard went over 1,000 career points in her team’s 56-32 win over Alma – Saginaw News
Boys Basketball: Fowlerville junior Brendan Young went over 1,000 career points with 33 (plus 20 rebounds) in a 74-62 win over Lansing Sexton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Basketball: Brendan Busch scored 56 points in Hillsdale Will Carleton’s 73-19 win over Jackson Prep, giving his team 56-point games by two players over a week – Hillsdale Daily News
Softball: After seven seasons away, Adrian Lenawee Christian will bring back the sport this spring – Adrian Daily Telegram
Bowling: From Saturday, the Howard City Tri County girls team locked up its first Central State Activities Association title – Greenville 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.)