Today In The MHSAA: 5/28/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 28, 2021
1. Baseball: After seeing a 59-game league win streak end in the first of the day against No. 20 Boyne City, Division 3 No. 14 Traverse City St. Francis won the second 4-3 to clinch the Lake Michigan Conference title – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Boys Golf: Brighton edged Northville 293-297 to claim the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship tournament; Brighton is ranked No. 4 and Northville No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Girls Lacrosse: No. 2 Detroit Country Day advanced in Division 2 with a 15-10 Regional win over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian – Oakland Press
4. Softball: Walled Lake Northern earned the Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship with a 1-0 win over South Lyon; both are honorable mentions in the Division 1 poll – Oakland Press
5. Baseball: Midland finished a game against Division 1 No. 20 Grand Blanc from last month – and finished with a 2-1 win and share of the Saginaw Valley League title with the Bobcats – Midland Daily News
6. Baseball: Ludington earned a share of the Lakes 8 Activities Conference title with a win over Muskegon Orchard View – Ludington Daily News
7. Baseball: Division 1 No. 13 Temperance Bedford claimed the Southeastern Conference Red championship with a win over Ann Arbor Huron – Monroe News
8. Track & Field: The Fairview girls and Hale boys won North Star League Little Dipper championship meets – WBKB
9. Girls Soccer: Stephanie Strong scored three goals to lead Howell past Swartz Creek 4-1 in Division 1 District play – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
10. Boys Lacrosse: Rochester Adams held off Bloomfield Hills 11-8 in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Oakland Press
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.)