Today in the MHSAA: 4/19/18
April 19, 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.
1. Girls Tennis: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Midland Dow shut out LPD2 No. 6 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and gave up just a point to LPD2 No. 3 Birmingham Seaholm – Midland Daily News
2. Girls Tennis: Also at Midland, LPD2 No. 7 Traverse City Central downed Forest Hills Central and was shut out by Seaholm – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 10 Brighton edged No. 5 Howell 20-15 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Baseball: Brighton got a five-inning no-hitter from Cameron Tullar in a 12-1 win over Novi – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
5. Baseball: Division 1 No. 9 Sterling Heights Stevenson got back on the field with a win over Utica Eisenhower – Detroit News
6. Baseball: Division 1 top-ranked Saline opened league play with a victory over Temperance Bedford – Saline Post
7. Baseball: Birmingham Groves remained undefeated with a 7-5 win over rival Seaholm – Oakland Press
8. Football: Powers North Central has a new coach after a contentious few weeks led to Wednesday’s resignation of Kevin Bellefeuil, who guided the team to undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016 – Escanaba Daily Press
9. Boys Basketball: Buckley coach Blair Moss has stepped down after leading the Bears to back-to-back Class D runner-up finishes – MI Sports Now
10. Girls Basketball: After 20 seasons over two tenures, Tim Walker has stepped down again as Bay City Western girls basketball coach – Midland 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.)