Today in the MHSAA: 5/2/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 2, 2022
1. TRACK & FIELD Hartland’s Riley Hough and Holland West Ottawa’s Arianne Olson were the 1-mile champions at the Barnyard Invitational distance showcase – Athletic.net
2. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 2 Allen Park and Division 3 No. 6 Almont were champions of the Michigan Stars Tournament – MI Stars Tourney
3. TRACK & FIELD East Kentwood swept the Charlie Janke Invitational titles, with Zeeland East second in both meets; East Kentwood’s boys team is No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, and the girls are ranked No. 2 – Jackson Citizen Patriot Girls | Boys
4. TRACK & FIELD The Sault Ste. Marie girls and Marquette boys won the Manistique Kiwanis Invitational championships – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
5. BASEBALL Bay City Central clinched the Alma Invitational title with a 10-7 win over Alpena – Bay City Times
6. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 7 Essexville Garber picked up a suspended game with No. 14 Bay City John Glenn and went on to a 5-3 win – Bay City Times
7. TRACK & FIELD Monroe Jefferson swept its invitational’s championships – Monroe News
8. SOFTBALL Division 4 No. 5 Mendon won all three games big to claim its invitational title – Sturgis Journal
9. TRACK & FIELD The Gibraltar Carlson girls and New Boston Huron boys won Carlson’s Marauder Invitational – Southgate News-Herald Girls | Boys
10. SOFTBALL Pentwater won the Brethren Invitational with a pair of big scores – Local Sports Journal
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.)