Today In The MHSAA: 8/23/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 23, 2021
1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Ann Arbor Pioneer edged Northville to claim the 19th Huron Relays championship; Pioneer is No. 1 and Northville No. 2 in the opening Lower Peninsula Division 1 rankings – We Love Ann Arbor
2. VOLLEYBALL Marquette went 7-0 to claim the Sault Ste. Marie Invitational championship – Marquette Mining Journal
3. BOYS SOCCER Royal Oak downed Grosse Pointe South in a shootout to win the Paul Bartoshuk Tournament at Detroit Country Day – Macomb Daily
4. BOYS SOCCER Michael Kramer scored all three goals as Brighton downed Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 3-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
5. VOLLEYBALL Kingsford upset top-seeded Escanaba to win its 12-team invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News
6. BOYS TENNIS Bay City John Glenn won 20 matches to clinch its annual quad invitational – Bay City Times
7. CROSS COUNTRY The Hartland boys and Freeland and Marshall girls were among champions at St. Johns’ Under the Lights Invitational – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. VOLLEYBALL Burr Oak swept all five of its matches in winning the Tekonsha Tournament championship – Sturgis Journal
9. CROSS COUNTRY Mason swept titles and the Northville boys and Brighton girls also were winners at the Novi Lamplighter Invitational – Observer & Eccentric
10. BOYS SOCCER Madison Heights Bishop Foley finished with shutouts in their last two games to win the Bob Floros Memorial Cup at Ferndale – 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.)