Today in the MHSAA: 8/22/19
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 22, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Some shuffling among the soccer elite and a school-record golf round just a week into the season highlighted the statewide highlights from Wednesday.
1. Boys Soccer: Elk Rapids dealt reigning Division 4 champion Leland a 1-0 loss – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Girls Tennis: Ishpeming Westwood edged Negaunee 5-3 in a matchup of last season's Upper Peninsula Finals champions in Divisions 2 and 1, respectively – Marquette Mining Journal
3. Girls Golf: Durand won the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference preseason tournament thanks to a school-record round by Emme Lantis – Owosso Argus-Press
4. Cross Country: Bridgman’s girls edged Bloomingdale to win the Bees’ home invitational, while Watervliet set the pace with the boys title – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
5. Cross Country: Saugatuck’s boys edged Grandville Calvin Christian’s by a point to win the Hesperia Invitational’s small-school division, while Calvin Christian’s girls won with Saugatuck’s second – Holland Sentinel
6. Boys Soccer: Jaden King scored four goals in Grand Haven’s 7-1 win over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Boys Soccer: Freshman Jeb Snead had three goals and an assist as Midland Dow defeated Petoskey 6-0 – Midland Daily News
8. Cross Country: Sand Creek’s girls won the Pittsford Wildcat Early Bird Invitational with three of the top nine finishers – Adrian Daily Telegram
9. Boys Soccer: Midland Bullock Creek downed Saginaw Swan Valley for the first time in at least four seasons, 3-2 – Midland Daily News
10. Girls Tennis: Reigning Upper Peninsula Division 1 runner-up Marquette opened with a 7-1 win over rival Escanaba – Marquette Mining Journal
Also of note …
Girls Basketball: Leland is mourning the recent death of legendary coach Larry Glass, who led the girls basketball team to back-to-back-to-back Class D championships from 1980-82 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
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.)