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Today In The MHSAA: 5/12/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 12, 2022
1. GIRLS LACROSSE East Grand Rapids edged Rockford 12-11 in a matchup of Finals favorites; EGR entered the week No. 1 in Division 2 and Rockford No. 2 in Division 1 – FOX 17
2. BOYS LACROSSE John Weber set a Hartland record with 10 goals as the Division 1 No. 4 Eagles downed No. 7 Brighton 18-8 to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. GIRLS LACROSSE Division 1 top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern clinched the Ottawa-Kent Conference Tier 1 title with a 12-7 win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – FOX 17
4. GIRLS LACROSSE Okemos avenged last season’s championship game loss to DeWitt with a 6-5 win over the Division 2 No. 8 Panthers in the Capital Area Activities Conference Tournament final – Lansing State Journal
5. TRACK & FIELD The Fremont boys clinched the Central State Activities Association Gold championship – Local Sports Journal
6. BOYS LACROSSE Division 1 No. 8 South Lyon United finished a perfect run through the Lakes Valley Conference with a 14-11 win over Walled Lake Western – Oakland Press
7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 9 Midland Dow won a matchup of Saginaw Valley League leaders 4-2 over Davison – WJRT
8. GIRLS SOCCER Richmond moved into a first-place tie with Armada in the Blue Water Area Conference after a 1-0 win over the Tigers – Macomb Daily
9. TRACK & FIELD Benny Diaz put together another incredible performance as Saugatuck swept Coloma in boys and girls meets – Holland Sentinel
10. TRACK & FIELD Petoskey’s Noel VanderWall ran the fastest 1,600 time in Lower Peninsula Division 2 this season during a dual with Traverse City West – Petoskey News-Review
![Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association.](/sites/default/files/2023-12/231212_WestOttawa_2H.png)
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.)