Today In The MHSAA: 5/13/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 13, 2021
1. Girls Soccer: Division 2 No. 17 Ludington clinched its first league championship in this sport with a win over Muskegon Orchard View – Ludington Daily News
2. Girls Soccer: Davison handed Division 1 No. 20 Midland Dow its first league loss, 4-3 – Midland Daily News
3. Boys Golf: Traverse City St. Francis – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – shot a 332 to win its Lake Michigan Conference event by a stroke ahead of LPD4 No. 5 Charlevoix – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Girls Soccer: Morgan Stack’s four goals helped Dearborn Divine Child past Division 3 No. 18 Wixom St. Catherine 8-4 – Oakland Press
5. Baseball: Division 1 No. 12 Lake Orion came back for a 6-4 win over Clarkston to complete a sweep of the Wolves – Oakland Press
6. Boys Golf: Ann Arbor Skyline – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – defeated Huron and Monroe to remain perfect in match play – We Love Ann Arbor
7. Girls Soccer: St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran downed Niles thanks to six goals by Ellie Primerano – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
8. Girls Soccer: Newaygo remains unbeaten in league play after a 3-2 win over Howard City Tri County – MI Sports Now
9. Girls Soccer: Flushing edged Fenton 1-0 to keep pace in its league race – WJRT
10. Softball: Saline’s Abby Kleinschmidt earned an MHSAA record book entry with seven RBI in a big win over Jackson – Saline Post
Also of note …
Football: Derek Pfaff had been among stars of Harbor Beach’s 2012 Division 8 championship team. Less than two years later, he nearly lost his life in an attempted suicide. He is sharing his story in hopes of helping others – and as part of his miraculous survival and recovery, he is a candidate to become the fourth person in U.S. history to receive a facial transplant – Minden City Herald
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.)