Today in the MHSAA: 5/30/19
May 30, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Upsets and more close finishes continued to set the stage as teams moved on in the girls soccer, girls and boys lacrosse and boys golf tournaments Thursday, in addition to champions being crowned in Upper Peninsula Boys Tennis and Girls & Boys Golf Finals – see coverage of all four of those events under “Latest Posts” to the right.
1. Girls Soccer: No. 9 Grand Haven upset No. 2 Grandville 3-2 to move on to a Division 1 District championship game – Grand Haven Tribune
2. Boys Lacrosse: No. 1 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central clinched its eighth straight Regional title with a 17-4 win over No. 5 Forest Hills Northern in Division 2 – FOX 17
3. Girls Soccer: No. 12 Macomb Dakota moved on in Division 1 with a 1-0 overtime win over No. 8 New Baltimore Anchor Bay in their District Semifinal – Macomb Daily
4. Boys Lacrosse: Plymouth won its first Regional title in this sport, downing No. 10 Saline 19-12 in Division 1 – Observer & Eccentric
5. Girls Soccer: No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian got past No. 8 Kalamazoo Hackett in a Division 4 District Semifinal – Kalamazoo Gazette
6. Boys Golf: No. 6 Clinton edged Jackson Christian by a stroke to win its second straight Lower Peninsula Division 4 Regional title – Adrian Daily Telegram
7. Girls Soccer: Top-ranked Novi got past No. 11 Hartland to move on to a Division 1 District Final – Oakland Press
8. Girls Lacrosse: Top-ranked East Grand Rapids advanced on to a Division 2 Regional Final with a 25-7 win over No. 10 Grand Rapids Catholic Central – FOX 17
9. Girls Soccer: Ellie Primerano’s last-minute goal gave No. 13 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran a 2-1 lead on the way to a Division 4 District Semifinal win over Bridgman – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
10. Boys Golf: No. 2 DeWitt, Haslett and Mason took the top three spots in their LPD2 Regional at El Dorado, keeping reigning champion Flint Powers Catholic (fourth place) from advancing to this year’s Finals – Flint 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.)