Today in the MHSAA: 6/13/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 13, 2022
1. LACROSSE/BOYS GOLF Four lacrosse champions were crowned, including three after their Finals went to overtime, and four Lower Peninsula boys golf teams also celebrated championships – Second Half
2. SOFTBALL No. 2 Jackson Northwest shut out No. 4 Owosso and No. 3 Chelsea to claim a Division 2 Regional title – JTV
3. SOFTBALL No. 7 Escanaba advanced to the final week with a 3-2 Regional Final win over top-ranked Gaylord – Escanaba Daily Press
4. BASEBALL Top-ranked Ada Forest Hills Eastern defeated Petoskey and No. 19 Bay City John Glenn to earn its first trip to the Semifinals and put coach Ian Hearn over 600 career wins – Grand Rapids Press
5. SOFTBALL Stevensville Lakeshore edged Wayland 2-1 in a matchup of state poll honorable mentions to clinch a Division 2 Regional title – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
6. SOFTBALL Onekama won its first Regional title in this sport, defeating Lake Leelanau St. Mary 13-5 in a Division 4 Regional Final – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. BASEBALL No. 5 Standish Sterling earned its first Semifinal trip since 1976 with wins over No. 13 Houghton and Traverse City St. Francis – Bay City Times
8. BASEBALL No. 15 Battle Creek Lakeview advanced to the Division 1 Semifinals with a 7-2 win over No. 2 Northville – Battle Creek Enquirer
9. SOFTBALL No. 8 Essexville Garber edged No. 5 Frankenmuth 3-2 to clinch a Division 2 Regional title – Bay City Times
10. GIRLS SOCCER Top-ranked Williamston moved on to the Division 3 Semifinals with a 4-0 win over No. 13 Flint Powers Catholic – Lansing State Journal
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.)