Today in the MHSAA: 4/26/18
April 26, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
1. Softball: Gabi Salo struck out 19 batters in Division 2 No. 3 Escanaba’s 4-0 perfect game win over Division 4 honorable mention Rapid River – Escanaba Daily Press
2. Girls Soccer: Division 1 top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central defeated Division 2 No. 7 Lowell 2-0, running its shutout streak to eight straight games – FOX 17
3. Girls Tennis: Traverse City Central, No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, downed Cadillac as Trojans No. 1 singles player Autumn Roberts won her 100th match – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Baseball: Division 1 No. 12 Sterling Heights Stevenson won its second game this week over No. 9 Grosse Pointe South, handing the 10-2 Blue Devils an 8-3 defeat – Detroit News
5. Softball: Division 1 honorable mention Allen Park junior Sydni Uhlenberg fired a five-inning perfect game against Wyandotte Roosevelt – Southgate News Herald
6. Girls Lacrosse: Spring Lake won a fourth straight one-goal meeting over Grand Haven, 6-5 – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Girls Soccer: Sarah Ismail netted both goals as Midland Dow edged Saginaw Heritage 2-1 – Midland Daily News
8. Girls Soccer: Rachel Nesburg scored three goals as Charlevoix got past Kingsley – Petoskey News-Review
9. Track & Field: Quincy’s boys and girls teams remained undefeated in Big 8 Conference competition with sweeps of Reading and Concord – Coldwater Daily Reporter
10. Baseball: Division 3 No. 3 Bronson and Fremont played one game Wednesday but scored enough runs for a few, with the Vikings winning 15-11 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
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.)