Today in the MHSAA: 4/23/19
April 23, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Monday’s statewide sports action reached from the southern border into the Upper Peninsula and included ranked matchups in softball on both sides of Mackinac Bridge.
1. Softball: Division 3 No. 3 Sanford Meridian and Division 4 No. 5 Unionville-Sebewaing delivered each other’s first losses during a doubleheader split – Midland Daily News
2. Baseball: Jake Amato tossed a three-hitter as Salem shut out Division 1 No. 7 Brighton 6-0 – State Champs Sports Network
3. Girls Tennis: Top-ranked Grosse Pointe South won a matchup of top teams in Lower Peninsula Division 1 over No. 9 (tied) Ann Arbor Huron – We Love Ann Arbor
4. Softball: Division 3 No. 9 Negaunee opened its season with a sweep of Division 4 honorable mention Rapid River – Escanaba Daily Press
5. Baseball: Grosse Pointe South earned a 12-4 win over Division 1 No. 14 Macomb Dakota – Detroit News
6. Boys Lacrosse: Battle Creek Lakeview won its third straight All-City title with a double overtime win over Pennfield – Battle Creek Enquirer
7. Baseball: Brethren’s Jake Riggs had 15 strikeouts in the opening win over Mason County Eastern and hit three home runs in the second game of the sweep – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Boys Golf: Mattawan, No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, edged Stevensville Lakeshore by two strokes to win the opening Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West jamboree – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
9. Girls Soccer: Division 2 No. 15 Trenton improved to 7-1 in Downriver League play with a key win over Southgate Anderson – Southgate News-Herald
10. Girls Soccer: Division 1 No. 10 Rochester Adams shut out Birmingham Seaholm 2-0 – 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.)