Today in the MHSAA: 8/26/19
August 26, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Girls swimming & diving and volleyball teams launched into their seasons over the weekend and wasted no time helping fill today’s list of notable performances from Friday and Saturday.
1. Cross Country: The Traverse City Central and McBain girls and Grand Rapids Christian and Roscommon boys won championships at Benzie Central’s Pete Moss Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Cross Country: Brighton’s boys won the South Lyon Invitational ahead of reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion Plymouth, while Brighton’s girls edged Plymouth’s with the tie-breaker – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Ann Arbor Pioneer won the Huron Relays by eight points over Saline and 14 ahead of Northville – We Love Ann Arbor
4. Girls Swimming & Diving: Midland Dow and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central shared the championship at the Battle Creek Relays – Midland Daily News
5. Volleyball: Host Battle Creek St. Philip won the Carrie Adams Invitational with a 2-1 finale victory over Centreville, which advanced with a semifinal win over reigning Division 3 champion Bronson – Three Rivers News
6. Cross Country: Both individual course records were broken and the Blissfield girls and Clinton boys won team titles at Addison’s Keunner Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram
7. Volleyball: Marquette swept Calumet in the championship match to claim the Kingsford Invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News
8. Volleyball: Petoskey won the Sault St. Marie Invitational for the fourth straight season, downing Alpena in the final – Petoskey News-Review
9. Boys Soccer: Gaylord downed Adrian and Boyne City by a combined score of 12-1 to win its Sunrise Side Soccer Cup Challenge – Gaylord Herald Times
10. Volleyball: Manistique swept Brimley to clinch the Munising Invitational championship – Escanaba Daily 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.)