Today in the MHSAA: 5/9/17
May 9, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We have a spring league champion (two, actually), as Remus Chippewa Hills continued its dominance in both girls and boys track & field while a number of others continued to advance on successful seasons Monday.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Baseball
Division 2 No. 11 Fowlerville moved to 18-1-2 on Nate Leonard’s 4-0 no-hitter of Williamston, followed by an 8-5 win in the second game – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Gladstone and Division 4 No. 10 Norway split Monday in a matchup of Upper Peninsula powers – Escanaba Daily Press
Division 1 top-ranked Saline moved to 21-1 on an 11th-inning home run by Cole Daniels that pushed it ahead of No. 8 Temperance Bedford 4-2 – Saline Post
Tyler Moses threw a five-inning perfect game for Lake Orion in its opener against Oxford, but Oxford came back to win the second game – Oakland Press
Boys Golf
Saginaw Heritage bested the field by 10 strokes, shooting a 326 to win the Saginaw County Tournament – Saginaw News
Gaylord, No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, finished 19 strokes ahead of the rest to win an eight-team event at Bayview Country Club – Gaylord Herald Times
Girls Soccer
Holland Christian avenged an earlier 5-0 loss to Division 3 No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian with a 0-0 tie – Holland Sentinel
From Saturday, Division 1 No. 5 Brighton improved to 9-1-2 with a 4-1 win over No. 16 Okemos – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Girls Tennis
Parma Western improved to 8-0-1 with a sweep of neighbor Jackson Northwest – Jackson Citizen-Patriot
Track & Field
Remus Chippewa Hills swept the Central State Activities Association championships, the girls winning their 16th straight league title and the boys their first since 2013; the girls team is ranked No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
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.)