Today In The MHSAA: 5/4/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 4, 2022
1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 4 Rochester moved into first alone in the Oakland Activities Association Red with a 2-0 victory over No. 2 Troy Athens – Oakland Press
2. BOYS LACROSSE Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central remained undefeated with a 12-5 win over No. 4 East Grand Rapids – FOX 17
3. TRACK & FIELD Tecumseh’s girls – No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – swept No. 8 Chelsea and Ypsilanti, while on the boys side Chelsea won both matchups – Adrian Daily Telegram
4. BOYS LACROSSE Division 1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central earned a 13-6 win over Division 2 No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood – Oakland Press
5. SOFTBALL Onekama also remains undefeated thanks to a sweep of Frankfort – Manistee News Advocate
6. BASEBALL Ogemaw Heights handed Cheboygan its first loss of the season, in a doubleheader split – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
7. GIRLS SOCCER Holland scored first, but Zeeland West finished with a 6-2 win – Holland Sentinel
8. GIRLS SOCCER Sophia Hekkema had four goals and an assist as Muskegon Reeths-Puffer downed Grand Rapids Union 5-2 – MuskegonSports.com
9. GIRLS SOCCER Cheboygan won big over Big Rapids Crossroads thanks in part to three goals from Kenzie Burt – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
10. GIRLS SOCCER Cadillac and Traverse City Central played to a 2-2 draw in the Big North Conference – Cadillac News
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.)