Today in the MHSAA: 3/9/18
March 9, 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: A third-period goal sent No. 5 Trenton to the Division 2 championship game with a 3-2 Semifinal win over reigning title winner and current No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice – Southgate News Herald
2. Girls Basketball: Wayne Memorial became a first-time Regional champ in girls basketball with a 66-36 win over Belleville in Class A – Observer & Eccentric
3. Girls Basketball: Hamilton claimed its first Regional title in girls basketball, downing Edwardsburg 43-26 in Class B – Holland Sentinel
4. Girls Basketball: Chassell also won its first girls hoops Regional title, downing Bark River-Harris 58-55 in overtime in Class D – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. Girls Basketball: Muskegon Oakridge’s 64-59 win in overtime over Grand Rapids South Christian gave the Eagles their first Regional title since 1991 – FOX 17
6. Hockey: No. 3 Hartland moved on to its third Division 2 championship game in six seasons with a 9-1 Semifinal win over No. 9 Grand Rapids Northern/Eastern – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. Girls Basketball: Muskegon scored with 12 seconds left in regulation to send its Regional Final against Hudsonville to overtime, then emerged as a champion in Class A, 51-45 – Local Sports Journal
8. Girls Basketball: Undefeated East Lansing downed Coldwater 54-40 in a matchup of highly-ranked teams in Class A – Lansing State Journal
9. Girls Basketball: Grosse Pointe North stopped Warren Cousino’s pursuit of a third straight Regional title with a 57-45 win in Class A – C&G Newspapers
10. Girls Basketball: Clarkston clinched its first Regional title in 13 years with a 50-33 win over West Bloomfield in Class A – 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.)