Today in the MHSAA: 4/26/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 26, 2024
1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian downed Division 2 No. 5 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 3-0 – Grand Rapids Press
2. SOFTBALL Fowler earned an 11-6 win over Division 3 No. 2 Laingsburg, and Laingsburg won the second game 6-4 – Lansing State Journal
3. BASEBALL Midland earned a 6-1, 6-1 split with Division 1 No. 3 Bay City Western – Midland Daily News
4. SOFTBALL Muskegon Reeths-Puffer continued its perfect start with a 6-5, 14-13 sweep of Division 2 honorable mention Oakridge – CatchMark SportsNet
5. GIRLS SOCCER Rylie Cassette scored six goals and assisted on the other two in New Boston Huron’s win over Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard – Monroe News
6. SOFTBALL Division 1 honorable mention Midland swept Bay City Western, with Grace Schloop throwing a five-inning no-hitter and passing 600 career strikeouts – Midland Daily News
7. BOYS LACROSSE Bay City Central defeated Lapeer 5-4 for its first Saginaw Valley League win since 2014 – Bay City Times
8. SOFTBALL Buckley earned 31 strikeouts out of 36 outs total in its sweep of Brethren – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. GIRLS SOCCER Clarkston delivered Berkley’s first loss of the season, 3-1 – Oakland Press
10. GIRLS TENNIS Traverse City Central, No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, edged West 5-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
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.)