Today in the MHSAA: 8/21/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 21, 2023
1. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY The Romeo and Livonia Stevenson girls and Northville and Novi boys won Lamplighter Invitational championships – Hometown Life | Athletic.net
2. CROSS COUNTRY The St. Joseph girls and Kalamazoo Central boys paced solid fields to win the Portage Earlybird Invitational – Niles Daily Star | Athletic.net
3. CROSS COUNTRY Brighton won the team race but Pinckney’s Evan Loughridge was the top individual as the two boys powers met for the first time this fall – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. VOLLEYBALL Lake City swept Beaverton, Manistee, Charlevoix twice, Grayling and Kingsley in winning the Kingsley Invitational – Cadillac News
5. VOLLEYBALL Kingsford won its invitational with a 9-1 record and 2-0 victory over Crystal Falls Forest Park in the final – Iron Mountain Daily News
6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Standish-Sterling’s Scarlet Maison was the star of the Bobcat Pentathlon at Bay City John Glenn – Bay City Times
7. CROSS COUNTRY The Frankenmuth and Midland Dow girls and Traverse City Central boys were among champions at St. Johns’ Under the Lights Invitational – Midland Daily News | Athletic.net
8. BOYS TENNIS Big Rapids improved to 8-0 with wins over Stevensville Lakeshore, Allegan and Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian – Big Rapids News
9. VOLLEYBALL Boyne City swept all six of its matches in winning the Pellston Invitational – Petoskey News-Review
10. BOYS SOCCER Auburn Hills Avondale won its first-time Hive Invitational, downing Waterford Mott in the final – Oakland Press
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.)