Today in the MHSAA: 3/8/18
March 8, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Hockey: No. 9 Livonia Churchill earned its first Semifinal trip in this sport with a 3-0 win over No. 6 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in a Division 3 Quarterfinal – Observer & Eccentric
2. Hockey: Traverse City West earned a chance to reach its first MHSAA Hockey Final with a 1-0 Quarterfinal win over Holland West Ottawa in Division 1 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Hockey: Eddie Symons scored both goals as No. 7 Saginaw Heritage advanced to the Division 1 Semifinals with a 2-1 win over Macomb Dakota – Saginaw News
4. Boys Basketball: Traverse City West upset Big North Conference champion Petoskey 50-47 in a Class A District Semifinal – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. Boys Basketball: Maple City Glen Lake moved on in Class C with a 49-29 win over Manton, which made the Semifinals a year ago – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. Hockey: Top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central shut out No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 7-0 to advance in Division 1 – Observer & Eccentric
7. Boys Basketball: Reigning Class D champion Powers North Central lives on after a 78-72 double overtime win over Bark River-Harris in a District Semifinal – Escanaba Daily Press
8. Hockey: No. 4 Detroit Country Day moved on in Division 3 with a 3-2 overtime win over No. 8 Grand Rapids Catholic Central – No coverage available
9. Boys Basketball: Detroit U-D Jesuit came back from a halftime deficit to get past Hazel Park 57-48 in a Class A District Semifinal – Detroit News
10. Boys Basketball: Tariq Woody’s tip-in at the buzzer gave Novi a 60-58 win over Canton in a Class A District Semifinal – Observer & Eccentric
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: Calumet closed out a Class C District title with a 63-41 win over Houghton – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Hockey: Riverview Gabriel Richard held on for a 7-5 Division 3 Quarterfinal win over Chelsea – Southgate News Herald
Hockey: Division 3 top-ranked Hancock earned its trip to Finals weekend with a 5-1 Quarterfinal win over Big Rapids – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
Hockey: Reigning Division 1 champion and current No. 3 Brighton will return to the Semifinals thanks a 7-0 win over Lowell/Caledonia – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Basketball: Clarkston downed Lake Orion 62-50 in Class A as Foster Loyer returned from a knee injury – Oakland Press
Boys Basketball: Grant Peterson’s basket with 6.5 seconds to play carried Battle Creek Pennfield past Parchment 50-48 in a Class B District Semifinal – Battle Creek Enquirer
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.)