Today in the MHSAA: 5/25/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 25, 2023
1. BASEBALL Division 1 top-ranked Northville shut out No. 18 Hartland 6-0 to clinch an overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association title – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. BASEBALL Adrian Madison clinched a share of its first league title since 2007 with a sweep of Morenci in the Tri-County Conference – Adrian Daily Telegram
3. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 8 Walled Lake Northern added the Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title to its regular-season championship with a 4-3, nine-inning win over South Lyon East – Oakland Press
4. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 3 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s edged Detroit Catholic Central for the Catholic League Bishop championship, and Division 4 No. 6 Marine City Cardinal Mooney downed Dearborn Divine Child to win the Cardinal – Detroit News | Macomb Daily
5. TRACK & FIELD Traverse City St. Francis swept Lake Michigan Conference championships, and Indian River Inland Lakes swept in the Ski Valley Conference; the St. Francis girls are No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 and the boys are No. 10 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 7 Harland shut out honorable mention Livonia Stevenson 6-0 to also claim the overall KLAA championship – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
7. TRACK & FIELD The Union City boys and Homer girls won Big 8 Conference championship meets – Coldwater Daily Reporter Boys | Girls
8. BOYS GOLF LPD1 No. 3 Traverse City Central finished its run to the title in the Big North Conference – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. GIRLS SOCCER Unranked Lake Orion opened District play with a 1-0 win over No. 9 Rochester Adams in Division 1 – Oakland Press
10. GIRLS SOCCER No. 11 Plainwell advanced in Division 2 with a 5-0 win over No. 14 St. Joseph – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
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.)