Today in the MHSAA: 5/22/18
May 22, 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. Girls Soccer: Division 4 top-ranked North Muskegon ran its record to 16-0 and its overall scoring advantage to 129-0 this spring with an 8-0 win over Ravenna in the West Michigan Conference semifinals – Muskegon Chronicle
2. Girls Soccer: Alma secured the Tri-Valley Conference Central title with a 7-1 win over Ovid-Elsie as Tia Everdeen became the first in program history to score 100 goals – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
3. Boys Golf: Pentwater won the West Michigan D League postseason tournament by a stroke to finish first overall in the league – Manistee News Advocate
4. Softball: Warren Regina came back to edge Farmington Hills Mercy 5-4 in the Detroit Catholic League A-B championship game – Detroit News
5. Girls Soccer: Division 1 No. 18 Rochester Adams downed Rochester 2-0 to clinch an outright Oakland Activities Association Red championship – Oakland Press
6. Boys Golf: Bad Axe won the final Greater Thumb Conference event of the spring by four strokes to create a shared title in the GTC West with Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker – Huron Daily Tribune
7. Baseball/Softball: The Hillman baseball and Division 4 honorable mention Onaway softball teams finished their league title runs undefeated in their respective conferences with two more wins apiece – Alpena News
8. Girls Soccer: Grace VerHage scored her 99th and 100th career goals as Otsego downed Plainwell to stay undefeated in the Wolverine Conference – WWMT
9. Track & Field: The Johannesburg-Lewiston girls and Mancelona boys clinched Ski Valley Conference championships – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. Softball: Division 3 honorable mention Boyne City swept Charlevoix to earn a share of the Lake Michigan Conference title – Petoskey News-Review
Also of note …
Officials: The MHSAA always is working to recruit and retain officials, and WNEM addressed some of the challenges – WNEM
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.)