Today In The MHSAA: 2/21/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 21, 2022
1. SWIMMING & DIVING Marquette opened six weekends of winter MHSAA Finals with a sweep of Upper Peninsula swimming & diving championships – Second Half
2. WRESTLING Hartland’s Eliana Bommarito was among headlining champions from the first MHSAA Girls Regionals – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Adams won a strong Division 1 District at Rochester High, and Troy Athens set three school records in qualifying fourth for Regionals – Oakland Press
4. COMPETITIVE CHEER For the fifth-straight season, Allen Park was first and Dearborn Divine Child second at their Division 2 District – Southgate News-Herald
5. WRESTLING Lenawee County advanced 35 wrestlers to the MHSAA Individual Finals – Adrian Daily Telegram
6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 19 Bloomfield Hills Marian finished a highlight-filled week with a 44-36 win over No. 10 Dearborn Divine Child in the Detroit Catholic League Bishop Final – Observer & Eccentric
7. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 1 No. 8 East Lansing clinched the outright Capital Area Activities Conference Blue title with a 68-63 win over Okemos – Lansing State Journal
8. BOYS BASKETBALL Division 2 No. 6 Onsted improved to 17-0 and clinched a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with a 67-50 win over Blissfield – Adrian Daily Telegram
9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hillman downed Atlanta 55-22 to claim a share of the North Star League Little Dipper title – WBKB
10. BOWLING Bay City John Glenn swept the Bay County Championships; the girls team is ranked No. 7 and the boys No. 6 in Division 2 – Bay City Times
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.)