Today in the MHSAA: 5/2/17

May 2, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Rain switched up more than a few schedules Monday, but a number of ranked teams still took the field with some major contests especially in baseball, lacrosse and golf.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Baseball

Division 1 No. 5 Sterling Heights Stevenson remained undefeated in Macomb Area Conference play with a key 7-6 win over No. 3 Utica Eisenhower – Macomb Daily

Boys Golf

Unranked Warren DeLaSalle won its fourth straight Macomb County championship, shooting a 309 to clinch by seven strokes over Division 1 No. 9 Utica Ford – Macomb Daily

Girls Lacrosse

Division 1 No. 7 Brighton followed Cameron Stilson’s county saves record in a 15-9 win over rival and No. 3-ranked Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Girls Tennis

From Friday, Portland downed previously top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart 6-2; the Raiders remained ranked No. 7 in Division 4 while Sacred Heart fell to No. 5 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Football

Former Saginaw High coach George Genyk, who helped turn around the program during the mid-1980s, died Saturday at age 78 – Saginaw News

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.

The band performs at Holland West Ottawa's athletics complex.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.)