Today in the MHSAA: 8/21/18
August 21, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Girls Golf: Northville broke its tournament scoring record by 22 strokes with a 291 to win the Sentech Services Tournament at Kensington Metropark – Observer & Eccentric
2. Girls Golf: Harbor Springs shot a program record 340 to win the Grayling Invitational overall title by 27 strokes – Petoskey News-Review
3. Girls Golf: Hartland won its home invitational, led by a school record 72 from Sydney Bradford – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Volleyball: Centreville came back from a one-set deficit to defeat Three Rivers 2-1 in the championship match of the St. Joseph County tournament – Sturgis Journal
5. Cross Country: Spring Lake’s girls and boys teams kicked of their seasons with a sweep of the Muskegon Orchard View Invitational titles – Grand Haven Tribune
6. Boys Soccer: Tyler Plummer scored all three goals as Pentwater defeated Big Rapids Crossroads Academy 3-2 – Local Sports Journal
7. Boys Soccer: Division 1 powers Novi and Northville played to a scoreless draw – Observer & Eccentric
8. Boys Soccer: Grayling’s two goals over the final 10 minutes gave it a 2-1 win over Benzie Central – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Boys Soccer: An early goal was enough as Holland Christian edged Grand Rapids South Christian 1-0 – Holland Sentinel
10. Boys Soccer: Jonesville and Blissfield combined for 11 goals including nine during the second half of a game that included plenty out of the ordinary – Hillsdale Daily News
Also of note …
Football: Portage Northern will debut its newly-completed Huskie Stadium on Friday after 53 years of sharing a field with Portage Central – Kalamazoo Gazette
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.)