Today in the MHSAA: 5/4/16
May 4, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A rematch of teams that faced off in the last two MHSAA Division 1 Boys Lacrosse Finals highlighted events from Tuesday’s statewide high school schedule.
(Note: "Today in the MHSAA" will not publish Thursday or Friday, but will return Monday.)
Boys Lacrosse
Top-ranked and reigning champion Birmingham Brother Rice downed No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central 11-5 in a matchup of favorites in the Detroit Catholic League and statewide in Division 1 – Oakland Press
After trailing at the ends of both the first quarter and second, Midland came back for a 17-9 win over Haslett – Midland Daily News
Softball
Cadillac improved to 13-1 and stayed among the elite of the Big North Conference with 4-1 and 3-2 wins over Traverse City Central – Cadillac News
Romeo’s walk-off hit in the seventh inning gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 win over Utica Eisenhower in a matchup of teams receiving honorable mentions in the Division 1 rankings this week – Macomb Daily
An eighth-inning home run in the second game helped Lake Odessa Lakewood sweep Olivet 3-1 and 8-6 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
Girls Track & Field
From Monday, the Ontonagon girls led the Jack Kraemer Invitational most of the afternoon before Iron River West Iron County emerged to win the meet by three points – Iron Mountain Daily News
Boys Track & Field
Portage Northern’s 1,600-meter relay beat Stevensville Lakeshore’s by fewer than three seconds, and in doing so secured a dual meet win in the last event – 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.)