Today in the MHSAA: 3/4/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 4, 2024
1. WRESTLING The season ended at the Individual Finals with 70 champions awarded, including Detroit Catholic Central’s Darius Marines and Dundee’s Kade Kluce both claiming their fourth – MHSAA.com
2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Allen Park, Croswell-Lexington and Hudson finished the season as Finals champions – MHSAA.com
3. BOWLING Zeeland, Flint Kearsley, Madison Heights Bishop Foley and Traverse City Christian won team titles Friday, with Holt, Livonia Clarenceville, Hillsdale and Bad Axe celebrating singles winners at Saturday’s Finals – MHSAA.com
4. BOWLING Flint Kearsley and Frankenmuth swept team and singles championships over Finals weekend, with Grandville and Traverse City Christian also winning team titles and Utica Eisenhower and Hudson celebrating singles winners – MHSAA.com
5. HOCKEY Division 2 No. 6 White Lake Lakeland earned its first trip to the MHSAA Semifinals with a 4-3 double-overtime win over No. 9 Port Huron Northern – Oakland Press
6. GYMNASTICS Hartland won its Regional with the highest team score at any of the four – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. HOCKEY No. 2 Trenton downed No. 7 Detroit U-D Jesuit to move on to the Division 2 Semifinals – Southgate News-Herald
8. HOCKEY Saginaw Heritage downed Midland High 3-2 in overtime to advance in Division 2 – WNEM
9. BOYS BASKETBALL Menominee claimed a Division 3 District title with a 51-49 win over Iron Mountain – Eagle Herald
10. BOYS BASKETBALL Flint Beecher earned its Division 3 District title with a 55-53 win over Millington – Mid-Michigan Now
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.)