Today in the MHSAA: 8/22/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 22, 2022
1. VOLLEYBALL Centreville came back after losing the first set to defeat Battle Creek St. Philip and win the 28th Carrie Adams Memorial Tournament – Battle Creek Enquirer
2. CROSS COUNTRY East Grand Rapids swept both the girls and boys Portage Central Early Bird Invitational championships – Athletic.net
3. VOLLEYBALL McBain went undefeated including defeating Battle Creek Harper Creek in the final of the Leland Invitational – Cadillac News
4. BOYS TENNIS Big Rapids won the Allegan Quad with the host finishing second – Big Rapids Pioneer
5. BOYS SOCCER Detroit Country Day downed Royal Oak in a shootout to clinch the Paul Bartoshuk Tournament title – Oakland Press
6. BOYS SOCCER Bay City John Glenn scored the lone goal of his team’s Bay County championship game win over Bay City Western – Bay City Times
7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Traverse City was first and Muskegon Mona Shores second at the Ludington Relays – Local Sports Journal
8. CROSS COUNTRY Freeland swept championships at St. Johns’ Under the Lights Invitational, and DeWitt’s girls also were victorious – Athletic.net
9. CROSS COUNTRY The Brighton and Fraser girls and Northville and Livonia Stevenson boys won Lamplighter Invitational titles – Athletic.net
10. VOLLEYBALL Niles Brandywine went undefeated in winning the Coloma Early Bird Invitational – Niles Daily Star
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.)