Today in the MHSAA: 6/12/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 12, 2023
1. BOYS GOLF Northville won its first Finals championship, with Grand Rapids Christian, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Clarkston Everest Collegiate also claiming Lower Peninsula titles – MHSAA.com
2. LACROSSE Brighton and Detroit Country Day won girls championships, and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central won on the boys side of Saturday’s Finals – MHSAA.com Girls | Boys
3. SOFTBALL Honorable mention Lake Orion downed top-ranked Macomb Dakota 2-1 to claim a Division 1 Regional title – Oakland Press
4. BASEBALL Top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian advanced in Division 1 with an 8-2 Regional Final win over No. 2 Stevensville Lakeshore; the Eagles then defeated No. 11 Olivet in the Quarterfinal 12-2 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
5. SOFTBALL No. 10 Standish-Sterling downed top-ranked Evart 10-6 and then clinched a Division 3 Regional title with a 13-3 win over honorable mention Kingsley – Bay City Times
6. SOFTBALL Unranked Canton shut out No. 3 Allen Park 3-0 to clinch a Division 1 Regional title – Southgate News-Herald
7. SOFTBALL No. 5 Hartland handed No. 4 Farmington Hills Mercy its only loss, 3-0, to win a Division 1 Regional title – Oakland Press
8. BASEBALL Unranked Novi will return to its first Semifinals since 1973 thanks to wins over No. 16 Hartland 4-0 and No. 7 Battle Creek Lakeview 12-2 – Oakland Press
9. GIRLS SOCCER Unranked Clarkston Everest Collegiate advanced to a Division 4 Semifinal with a 2-0 win over No. 6 Saginaw Nouvel – Oakland Press
10. SOFTBALL Honorable mention Trenton repeated as a Division 2 Regional champ with wins over honorable mention New Boston Huron 5-0 and No. 3 Chelsea 11-1 – Southgate News-Herald
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.)