Today In The MHSAA: 4/29/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 29, 2021
1. Boys Golf: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Muskegon Mona Shores shot a 297, led by its number five golfer, to win the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association title – Muskegon Chronicle
2. Baseball: Division 1 top-ranked Brownstown Woodhaven downed Division 2 No. 7 Trenton 9-1 in a league matchup of state-ranked teams – Southgate News-Herald
3. Girls Soccer: Richland Gull Lake handed Portage Central its first defeat, 1-0 – WWMT
4. Boys Lacrosse: Bo Lockwood went over 200 career points with four goals and seven assists in Hartland’s win over Livonia – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
5. Baseball: Chesaning’s Tyler Sager threw his second no-hitter this spring, this one five innings against Durand – Owosso Argus-Press
6. Boys Golf: Sturgis shot a 360 to win the St. Joseph County championship by 77 strokes – Sturgis Journal
7. Softball: Trenton handed Woodhaven its first Downriver League loss in a matchup of contenders, 6-2 – Southgate News-Herald
8. Baseball: Ann Arbor Skyline came back in the seventh inning and won in the ninth, defeating Division 1 No. 20 Pioneer 4-3 – Ann Arbor News
9. Track & Field: Three Traverse City-area athletes combined to break five school records Wednesday – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. Girls Soccer: Anna Thompson’s three goals helped Kalamazoo Christian past Schoolcraft 4-2 – Kalamazoo Gazette
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.)