Today in the MHSAA: 5/16/18
May 16, 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. Softball: Muskegon Mona Shores’ Taylor Dew hit her 49th career home run against Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills to tie the MHSAA record, while her team earned a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black title – Muskegon Chronicle
2. Softball: Division 1 No. 2 Caledonia and honorable mention Hudsonville remain tied for first in the O-K Red after splitting a doubleheader – FOX 17
3. Girls Soccer: Traverse City West clinched the Big North Conference championship with a 3-1 win over Traverse City Central – MI Sports Now
4. Softball: Quincy locked up the Big 8 Conference championship for the second straight season, with a sweep of Concord this time – Coldwater Daily Reporter
5. Softball: Division 2 No. 8 Muskegon Oakridge locked up a share of the West Michigan Conference title with a sweep of Ravenna – Local Sports Journal
6. Baseball: The Division 2 No. 19 Oakridge baseball team did the same, sweeping Ravenna for a share of the league championship – Local Sports Journal
7. Boys Golf: Charlevoix won the Lake Michigan Conference Invitational led by freshman Jake Beaudoin – Petoskey News-Review
8. Softball: Maddie Meredith drove in all four runs as Grand Ledge edged Fowlerville 4-3 in eight innings in the Greater Lansing Hall of Fame Softball Classic – Lansing State Journal
9. Softball: Taylor Carey starred in relief as Stockbridge got past Fowler 11-10 also in the Softball Classic – Lansing State Journal
10. Boys Lacrosse: Grand Rapids South Christian opened Regional play with a 13-5 win over Comstock Park, its first MHSAA postseason victory – SouthChristianSports.com
Also of note …
Softball: From Monday, Division 3 No. 10 Byron secured its eighth straight league championship with a sweep of New Lothrop – Owosso Argus-Press
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.)