Today In The MHSAA: 3/9/21
March 9, 2021
Title time continued on the basketball court Monday where at least three teams clinched conference championships to top our list of headliners.
1. Boys Basketball: Romulus Summit Academy handed Detroit Edison its first loss, 49-46, to clinch the Charter School Conference championship – Detroit News
2. Girls Basketball: Brooklyn Columbia Central clinched the Lenawee County Athletic Association title with a 33-30 win over Onsted – Jackson Citizen Patriot
3. Boys Basketball: Otsego claimed a fourth-straight Wolverine Conference title with a 61-36 win over Allegan – Kalamazoo Gazette
4. Boys Basketball: Ke’ontae Barnes became Muskegon Orchard View’s all-time leading scorer during an 86-42 win over Kent City – Local Sports Journal
5. Girls Basketball: Harper Woods Chandler Park won a matchup of title contenders, 79-78 – MLive-Detroit
6. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Ferndale 81-40 as Will Smythe drained 12 3-pointers – Oakland Press
7. Hockey: Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central downed Division 1 No. 8 West for the second time in four days, this time 7-1 – Up North Live
8. Girls Basketball: Freeland downed Alma 38-25, but the Panthers’ Alyssa Leister went over 1,000 career points – Saginaw News
9. Girls Basketball: Sarah Marvin posted a triple-double to lead Byron past Linden 71-37 – Owosso Argus-Press
10. Boys Basketball: Reese downed Bad Axe 82-80 in overtime to maintain first place in the Greater Thumb Conference West – Huron Daily Tribune
Also of note …
Wrestling: Montabella’s Shaun Balhorn went over 500 career wins, becoming the 31st coach in his sport to do so – 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.)