Today in the MHSAA: 4/15/19
April 15, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Michigan teams outraced the snow this weekend with a number of fireworks from the softball diamond, including a new career record holder for power-hitting prowess.
1. Softball: Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse’s Brooke Nadolny set the MHSAA career home runs record with her 56th and 57th in a sweep of Marysville – Macomb Daily
2. Softball: Division 2 No. 4 Eaton Rapids claimed the Saline Invitational title against a field that included Division 1 No. 6 Warren Regina – Saline Post
3. Softball: Bay City John Glenn won the Bay County Invitational with wins over Division 1 No. 7 Western, Central and Division 3 honorable mention Pinconning – Bay City Times
4. Baseball: Division 1 No. 11 Midland Dow downed Division 2 No. 14 Petoskey and Saginaw Heritage to win its invitational, but the Northmen did edge Division 2 top-ranked Saginaw Swan Valley 10-9 – Midland Daily News
5. Softball: Division 1 honorable mention Walled Lake Northern won a Farmington Hills Mercy Invitational against a field that included Division 2 No. 9 Carleton Airport, another Division 1 honorable mention New Baltimore Anchor Bay and Division 4 No. 3 Rogers City – State Champs Sports Network
6. Track & Field: Alpena’s boys and girls teams celebrated school records and the boys team went on to win the Davison Invitational while Ann Arbor Pioneer won the girls championship – Alpena News/We Love Ann Arbor
7. Boys Golf: Marshall shot a 314 to win the Coldwater Invitational by two strokes ahead of runner-up Mattawan – Coldwater Daily Reporter
8. Softball: Traverse City West won the East Kentwood Invitational, and Kalkaska took the title at Adrian’s tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Track & Field – The Addison boys and Sand Creek girls won Britton Deerfield Invitational championships – Adrian Daily Telegram
10. Girls Tennis: Trenton won a Grosse Ile Invitational that included Dearborn Divine Child and Brownstown Woodhaven along with the host Red Devils – Southgate News-Herald
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.)