Today In The MHSAA: 2/7/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 7, 2022
1. WRESTLING Clare clinched the outright Jack Pine Conference championship, its first JPC title in this sport – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
2. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Rochester Hills Stoney Creek won its first Oakland County championship – Oakland Press
3. GYMNASTICS Rockford was first at the Canton Invitational, which annually draws many of the top programs from across the state – Coldwater Daily Reporter
4. COMPETITIVE CHEER Gibraltar Carlson went over 773 points to pace a strong field at the Grosse Ile Invitational – Southgate News-Herald
5. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Macomb Dakota, No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, ran its county championship streak to three – Macomb Daily
6. WRESTLING Buchanan won the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Tournament, locking up the outright league title – Niles Daily Star
7. HOCKEY Division 1 No. 2 Brighton closed its Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League Showcase run with a 4-2 win over No. 4 Grandville – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. WRESTLING Division 4 No. 3 St. Louis won its 10th league championship over the last 11 seasons, defeating Hemlock 60-19 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
9. WRESTLING Division No. 2 Whitehall won the West Michigan Conference Tournament – CatchMark SportsNet
10. WRESTLING Division 1 No. 3 Hartland set a league record with 10 championships at the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Individual Tournament – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Also of note …
BOYS BASKETBALL Oxford returned to play its first home game of the season Friday, as the state showed “Oxford Strong” support for the school and community – Detroit Free Press | MLive-Detroit | Oakland Press
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.)