Today In The MHSAA: 3/15/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 15, 2021
Titanic matchups in wrestling and boys basketball filled in just a few spots on a weekend list packed with league champions, including the swimming & diving winner of arguably the strongest conference in the state – regardless of sport.
1. Wrestling: In a rematch of last season’s Division 1 Final, top-ranked Davison downed reigning champ and No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central 36-9 – State Champs Sports Network
2. Boys Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer finished first at the Southeastern Conference Red meet, followed by No. 5 Saline, LPD2 No. 3 Ann Arbor Skyline, LPD1 No. 9 Ann Arbor Huron and LPD2 No. 10 Temperance Bedford – We Love Ann Arbor
3. Girls Basketball: Hudsonville earned a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title with a 65-50 win over East Kentwood – FOX 17
4. Boys Basketball: Flint Carman-Ainsworth continued its surge with an 84-76 win over Grand Blanc in a matchup of Division 1 title contenders – WJRT
5. Girls Basketball: Frankenmuth downed Bay City John Glenn 36-25 to clinch the Tri-Valley Conference 8 title – WEYI
6. Hockey: Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills clinched the O-K Fischer title outright with a 4-2 win over Grand Haven – FOX 17
7. Boys Swimming & Diving: Manistee repeated as Coastal Conference champion – Manistee News Advocate
8. Bowling: The Utica Ford boys and New Baltimore Anchor Bay girls finished Macomb Area Conference White championship runs – Macomb Daily
9. Boys Swimming & Diving: Marysville claimed the MAC Gold championship meet title to go with its dual-meet first-place finish – Macomb Daily
10. Boys Swimming & Diving: Brownstown Woodhaven also added a league meet title to a perfect regular season, in the Downriver League – Southgate News-Herald
Also of note …
Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD2 honorable mention Fenton scored 508 points to win the Flint Metro League championship meet by more than 100 – Owosso Argus-Press
Bowling: The Caledonia boys and Hudsonville girls won O-K Red championship tournament titles – Grand Haven Tribune
Girls/Boys Basketball: Shelby Cade, playing on Buckley’s boys team this season, went over 1,000 points for her career in a 71-61 win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary – Cadillac News
Girls Basketball: Mackenzie Egger went over 1,000 career points as Mount Pleasant downed Bay City Central 39-30 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Boys Basketball: Kevin Pearson went over 1,000 career points as Onaway defeated Pellston 48-40 – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Boys Basketball: Rogers City’s Nick Freel also went over 1,000 career points, doing so in a 77-69 win over Posen – Alpena News
Athletic Directors: Longtime athletic director and coach Brian Gordon is retiring after more than 30 years in school sports, most recently at Novi – 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.)