Today in the MHSAA: 2/21/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 21, 2023

1. BOYS BASKETBALL New Haven Merritt scored the winner with 1.3 seconds to go to defeat Canton Prep 69-68 and clinch the Detroit Metro Athletic Conference Gold championship – Macomb Daily

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Bronson finished an outright championship run through the Big 8 Conference with a 47-39 win over Springport – Sturgis Journal

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Mackinaw City won big over Alanson to finish a perfect run through the Northern Lakes Conference – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Blanchard Montabella downed Carson City-Crystal 38-29 to clinch the Mid-State Activities Conference title – Greenville Daily News

5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Brooke Ferraiuolo went over 1,000 career points in Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian’s big win over Ellsworth – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

6. BOYS BASKETBALL Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice earned its first Catholic League Tournament championship game berth since 1999 with a 65-47 win over Detroit Catholic Central – Oakland Press

7. HOCKEY Mount Pleasant advanced in Division 2 with a 1-0 Regional-opening win over Bay Area – Bay City Times

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Caro also won with a buzzer-beater, getting past Kingston 52-50 – Saginaw News

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Hancock got past rival Houghton 47-45 – Upper Michigan Source

10. BOYS BASKETBALL Elk Rapids earned a 69-59 win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary – Up North Live

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.

The band performs at Holland West Ottawa's athletics complex.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.)