Today in the MHSAA: 5/20/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 20, 2024
1. TRACK & FIELD The Pinckney boys won their Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional in historic fashion, and Dearborn Divine Child’s girls won a strong race impressively as well – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. GIRLS SOCCER Allen Park Cabrini avenged an earlier loss to Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart with a 3-2 victory that clinched the St. Anne Tournament title, the program’s first Catholic High School League championship in this sport – Southgate News-Herald
3. TRACK & FIELD The Bark River-Harris girls won their third-straight Regional title in UPD2, and the Pickford boys also were victorious – Escanaba Daily Press
4. GIRLS SOCCER Big Rapids downed Howard City Tri County 5-1 to clinch the Central State Activities Association championship – MI Sports Now
5. GIRLS SOCCER Farmington Hills Mercy defeated Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in the Bishop Tournament final 3-1 to win its first CHSL title in this sport in 31 years – Oakland Press
6. TRACK & FIELD The East Grand Rapids girls and Ada Forest Hills Eastern boys were LPD2 Regional champions at Sparta – FOX 17
7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 13 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s also won its first CHSL Tournament championship, defeating Division 3 No. 2 Macomb Lutheran North 3-1 in the Cardinal finale – Macomb Daily
8. TRACK & FIELD The Hillsdale Academy top-ranked girls repeated as LPD4 Regional champions, and the top-ranked boys team took back the title from 2023 champ Reading – Hillsdale Daily News
9. TRACK & FIELD Brighton swept girls and boys Regional titles for the first time, in LPD1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
10. TRACK & FIELD Clare’s No. 3-ranked girls won their 10th-straight Regional title, and Clare’s top-ranked boys their fourth in a row, in LPD3 at Charlevoix – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
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.)