Today in the MHSAA: 4/24/17
April 24, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We’re deep into invitational season across all of our spring sports, and the weekend’s headliners include an impressive championship in softball and record feats in track & field.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Baseball
Pinconning unveiled a renovated stadium with a sweep of Shepherd including a no-hitter by Cam Floyd – Bay City Times
Jackson edged rival and Division 3 No. 3 Jackson Lumen Christi 2-1 thanks in part to the pitching and timely hitting of Xavier Hovinen – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Sand Creek downed Onsted and Springport to win Onsted’s Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram
Remus Chippewa Hills remained undefeated this season with a win at its invitational – Big Rapids News
Division 3 No. 10 Bronson won the Potterville Invitational claiming two wins by a combined 23-1 score – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Onekama downed Maple City Glen Lake and Mesick to win the Glen Lake Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Golf
Carney-Nadeau’s Hunter Eichhorn – who will play collegiately at Marquette University – led his team to the Niagara Invitational title with a two-over 74 to win the medalist honor by eight strokes – Escanaba Daily Press
Okemos finished 12 strokes ahead of the field to win Adrian Madison’s Ryder Cup-style tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram
Softball
Three Rivers won its invitational for the first time, downing Gobles and then Constantine – Sturgis Journal
Division 3 No. 6 Napoleon downed Division 1 honorable mention Saline 7-2 in the final to win the Hornets’ invitational – Saline Post
After falling to Bay City Central by a run in its opener, Alpena came back to win the Swartz Creek Invitational – Alpena News
Track & Field
Oak Park swept the championships at the annual Oxford Invitational, the girls ahead of Lake Orion and the boys ahead of Walled Lake Central – Oakland Press
The Petoskey girls and Charlevoix boys won team titles at a Harbor Springs Ram Scramble that saw a number of records fall – Petoskey News-Review
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.)