Today in the MHSAA: 3/1/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 1, 2022
1. SKIING Cadillac’s girls won their first Finals championship since 1990 while Traverse City Central’s girls, Traverse City West’s boys and Petoskey’s boys all repeated as champions – Second Half
2. HOCKEY Romeo advanced with a 4-0 Division 2 Regional championship win over New Baltimore Anchor Bay – Macomb Daily
3. GIRLS BASKETBALL By way of Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s 48-46 win over St. Charles, Coleman won a share of the Mid-State Activities Conference title – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
4. GIRLS BASKETBALL Traverse City West upset Big North Conference champion Petoskey 32-18 in a Division 1 District opener – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Farmington and Lake Orion both earned their first District wins in at least a decade – Oakland Press
6. GIRLS BASKETBALL North Muskegon avenged two regular-season losses with a 37-35 Division 3 District win over Shelby – Local Sports Journal
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Phoenix Burden-Smith’s game winner sent Saginaw Arts & Sciences past Midland Calvary Baptist 40-38 in a Division 4 District opener – Saginaw News
8. BOYS BASKETBALL Owen Varnado went over 1,000 career points in Muskegon Western Michigan Christian’s 58-44 win over Manistee – Grand Haven Tribune
9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Walled Lake Northern broke a nine-game, four-year losing streak against Walled Lake Central with a 40-37 Division 1 District Win – Spinal Column
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Greenville earned its first District win since 2016, 43-38 over Cedar Springs in Division 2 – 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.)