Today in the MHSAA: 5/14/18
May 14, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central ended No. 6 Birmingham Brother Rice’s 13-season reign in the Detroit Catholic League with an 11-8 victory to clinch its first conference championship – Observer & Eccentric
2. Baseball: Division 4 No. 2 Frankfort took sole possession of the MHSAA record for consecutive shutout innings, running its streak to 45 during a win over Onekama – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Softball: Division 2 No. 5 Richmond split with Romeo as the Blue Devils’ win put coach Howard Stuart over 1,000 for his career – Macomb Daily
4. Track & Field: Northville’s girls won their sixth straight Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship, while Grand Blanc’s boys (No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 1) won their side of the meet to cap their final season in the league – Observer & Eccentric Girls | Boys
5. Track & Field: Saline’s boys won the Southeastern Conference Red championship for the eighth straight season – Saline Post
6. Track & Field: The Lake Linden-Hubbell girls and Houghton boys continued to dominate this spring with championships at the Houghton County Invitational – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
7. Boys Tennis: Reigning Upper Peninsula Division 1 champion Negaunee claimed the Kingsford Invitational title, winning five flights – Marquette Mining Journal
8. Track & Field: The Highland Milford girls and White Lake Lakeland boys won the inaugural Lakes Valley Conference championship meet titles – Oakland Press
9. Girls Tennis: Fruitport edged Muskegon Mona Shores to win the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black tournament title – Grand Haven Tribune
10. Baseball: Petoskey scored a win over Division 3 No. 10 Reed City on the way to earning the championship at its home invitational – Petoskey News-Review
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.)