Today in the MHSAA: 5/15/18
May 15, 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. Track & Field: The Remus Chippewa Hills girls, No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, clinched their 16th straight conference championship with a win at the Central State Activities Association Gold meet – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
2. Track & Field – Zeeland East (No. 1 in LPD2 girls, No. 2 in boys) swept the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green meet championships, both teams followed by neighbor Zeeland West (No. 2 in LPD2 girls, No. 1 in boys) – Holland Sentinel
3. Girls Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 6 Brighton scored the game-winning goal with 13 seconds to play to edge No. 3 Hartland 16-15 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Girls Tennis: LPD1 No. 6 Holland West Ottawa clinched the outright O-K Red title with a league tournament championship ahead of No. 7 Rockford – Holland Sentinel
5. Girls Tennis: LPD2 No. 10 Zeeland East hung on to claim the O-K Green title by edging LPD3 No. 8 Holland Christian by a point at the league tournament – Holland Sentinel
6. Girls Tennis: LPD4 No. 3 Traverse City St. Francis claimed the Lake Michigan Conference tournament, as expected, but East Jordan’s Keegan Malpass won No. 1 singles despite dropping the first set of the final – Petoskey News-Review
7. Track & Field: Manistee Catholic Central’s boys clinched their first West Michigan D League overall title with a second-place finish at the league meet – Manistee News Advocate
8. Boys Lacrosse: Grand Ledge continued its historic run by clinching the Capital Area Activities Conference tournament title with a 9-4 win over Okemos – Lansing State Journal
9. Track & Field: Lake Orion swept Oakland Activities Association titles, the boys winning for the seventh straight season – Oakland Press
10. Softball: Negaunee clinched a share of the Mid-Peninsula Conference title with a sweep of Gwinn – Marquette Mining Journal
Also of note …
Track & Field: Livonia Ladywood’s current runners and alumni met for a final relay as the school prepares to close after this spring – Observer & Eccentric
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.)