Today in the MHSAA: 5/3/19
May 3, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half
Comebacks and record-book highlights fill today’s list of Thursday’s biggest headliners, starting off with a speedster’s notable performance leading the Lake Orion softball team.
Softball: Lake Orion’s Tessa Nuss notched her 103rd consecutive stolen base and hit two homers in the Division 1 honorable mention Dragons’ doubleheader sweep of North Farmington – State Champs Sports Network
2. Softball: Division 1 No. 2 Howell downed No. 10 Walled Lake Northern 9-5, and pitcher Molly Carney ran her career strikeout total to 500 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Boys Golf: Cadillac, No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, shot 314 to edge No. 10 Gaylord by four strokes and win the Falcon Invitational in West Branch – Cadillac News
4. Baseball: Division 3 No. 12 Traverse City St. Francis got past No. 17 Boyne City 5-4 in extra innings – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. Baseball: Division 1 No. 3 Sterling Heights Stevenson handed No. 20 Grosse Pointe South its first league loss 7-3 – Detroit News
6. Baseball: Saginaw Heritage improved to 12-4 with a 3-1 win over Division 1 No. 10 Midland Dow – Saginaw News
7. Girls Soccer: Division 1 No. 12 Plymouth downed Salem 3-1 in the teams’ annual “pink out” game – Observer & Eccentric
8. Baseball: Division 4 No. 18 Bay City All Saints came back to win on a walk-off single over Peck, 11-10 – Bay City Times
9. Girls Soccer: Gladwin downed Standish-Sterling thanks in part to Maddie Witt’s four goals – Midland Daily News
10. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 3 Rockford locked downed Hudsonville for a 14-4 victory – WOOD TV
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.)