Today in the MHSAA: 6/7/17
June 7, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Coaches often say that at this level of the tournament, every team is excellent. And that held true with the start of Girls Soccer Regionals on Tuesday, as favorites faced tough challenges and a few fell in upsets.
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.
Girls Soccer
Division 4 top-ranked Lansing Christian fended off a strong challenge from No. 5 Jackson Lumen Christi to win 2-1 – Lansing State Journal
Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern needed a shootout but edged No. 8 DeWitt 3-2 – Grand Rapids Press
Division 3 top-ranked Flint Powers Catholic scored late to eliminate No. 6 Williamston 2-1 – Flint Journal
No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian scored late in overtime to advance in Division 3 1-0 over No. 15 Paw Paw – Grand Rapids Press
No. 14 Manchester took No. 15 Plymouth Christian into overtime before securing a 2-1 win in Division 4 – Jackson Citizen Patriot
No. 13 Marshall scored with four minutes to play to upset No. 9 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg in Division 2, 2-1 – Battle Creek Enquirer
Division 3 No. 8 Macomb Lutheran North earned a return to the Regional Final with a 7-0 win over No. 19 Almont – Macomb Daily
Walled Lake Northern, No. 13 in Division 1, eliminated No. 5 Utica Eisenhower 1-0 – Oakland Press
Charlevoix won a second straight shootout in Division 3, this time over Clare for a 3-2 win – Petoskey News-Review
Division 4 No. 11 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett notched a 3-1 upset of No. 3 Madison Heights Bishop Foley – C&G Newspapers
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.)