Today in the MHSAA: 2/22/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 22, 2023
1. BASKETBALL Cass City’s girls and boys teams both clinched shares of Greater Thumb Conference West titles, and Saylar Cuthrell went over 1,000 career points – Huron Daily Tribune
2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Undefeated North Farmington defeated Oxford 41-38 to clinch the outright Oakland Activities Association White title – Oakland Press
3. BOYS BASKETBALL Jackson edged Chelsea 83-81 to clinch a share of the Southeastern Conference White championship – Ann Arbor News
4. BOYS BASKETBALL Chesaning earned a share of the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference title with a 42-39 overtime win over Ovid-Elsie – Mid-Michigan Now
5. SKIING Traverse City West’s girls and boys teams both finished Big North Conference championship runs – Cadillac News
6. BOYS BASKETBALL Bridgeport claimed the outright Tri-Valley Conference 8 title with a 59-46 win over Essexville Garber – Saginaw News
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Temperance Bedford earned a share of the Southeastern Conference Red title with a 59-29 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln – Monroe News
8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Saline in the SEC Red and Whitmore Lake in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference clinched league championships – Ann Arbor News
9. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Blanc doubled up Midland to clinch the Saginaw Valley League championship – WJRT
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Colon finished a title run in the Southern Central Athletic Association West with a 78-45 win over Battle Creek St. Philip – Sturgis Journal
Also of note …
BOYS BASKETBALL Mackinaw City clinched the outright Northern Lakes Conference title with a 51-42 win over Alanson – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
BOYS BASKETBALL Onsted clinched a share of the Lenawee County Athletic Association championship with a 56-36 win over Clinton – Adrian Daily Telegram
GIRLS BASKETBALL Lansing Catholic earned one of its best wins of a strong run, 65-38 over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep – Lansing State Journal
BOYS BASKETBALL Detroit U-D Jesuit edged Warren De La Salle Collegiate 54-48 to reach the Detroit Catholic League Bishop final – Detroit News
BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids South Christian ended Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s 75-game league winning streak, 82-54 – Grand Rapids Press
GIRLS BASKETBALL Mary Copple went over 1,000 career points in Brighton’s 54-45 win over Belleville – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
GIRLS BASKETBALL Zeeland East’s Mirra Fenlon and Saugatuck’s Kennedy Gustafson broke school records in wins – Holland Sentinel
GIRLS BASKETBALL Olivia Hayes broke the Holland Black River single-season scoring record in her team’s big win over West Michigan Aviation Academy – Holland Sentinel
GIRLS BASKETBALL Maddie Geers went over 1,000 career points in Kent City’s 65-49 win over Morley Stanwood – Local Sports Journal
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.)