Today In The MHSAA: 5/5/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 5, 2022
1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 3 Williamston defeated Division 2 No. 3 Haslett 1-0 in league play – Lansing State Journal
2. TRACK & FIELD The New Baltimore Anchor Bay boys and Macomb Dakota girls clinched shares of Macomb Area Conference Red titles – Macomb Daily Girls | Boys
3. BOYS GOLF Muskegon Mona Shores – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 302 to again win the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle
4. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 8 South Lyon East set itself up to clinch the Lakes Valley Conference title with a 4-1 victory over Division 1 No. 13 Walled Lake Northern – Oakland Press
5. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 9 Muskegon Oakridge swept Ravenna in a matchup of undefeated teams – CatchMark SportsNet
6. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 10 Grosse Ile moved into first alone in the Huron League with a 2-1 win over Riverview – Southgate News-Herald
7. GIRLS SOCCER Hannah Thompson scored five goals as Schoolcraft downed Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep 6-3 – WWMT
8. GIRLS TENNIS LPD1 No. 6 Holland West Ottawa shut out Grandville, led by a strong performance at No. 1 singles by Megan Blake – Holland Sentinel
9. TRACK & FIELD Traverse City West swept its meets with Traverse City Central; the West boys are ranked No. 2 in LPD1, and the girls are No. 6 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
10. SOFTBALL Nevaeh Ingram struck out 35 of 47 batters faced during Division 2 No. 3 Jackson Northwest’s sweep of Parma Western – Jackson Citizen Patriot
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.)