Today in the MHSAA: 8/26/20
August 26, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Tuesday saw some of the state’s best from a season ago continue to pick back up where they left off last fall, especially on the volleyball court and golf and cross country courses.
1. Girls Golf: Top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern won its invitational with a 326 at The Meadows at Grand Valley State; FHN has won three straight Lower Peninsula Division 2 titles – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Cross Country: The Hartland boys and Ann Arbor Skyline girls were victorious in dual meets LPD1 championship contenders matched up in the boys race – Livingston Daily
3. Volleyball: Montague swept a powerful field at Cadillac, downing the host, North Branch and Mt. Morris – Local Sports Journal
4. Cross Country: Houghton swept championships at the Painesdale Jeffers Invitational – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 9 Ann Arbor Pioneer shot a 177 to get past Saline and Temperance Bedford – Saline Post
6. Girls Golf: Battle Creek Harper Creek claimed the first Interstate 8 Athletic Conference jamboree by two strokes over Coldwater, shooting a 187 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
7. Boys Soccer: Traverse City Central improved to 3-0 with a 3-1 win over Midland – MI Sports Now
8. Volleyball: Grayling won its matches against Onekama and Buckley, both in sweeps, at the Frankfort quad – Petoskey News-Review
9. Volleyball: Traverse City Central swept in quad play for the second-straight day, on Tuesday downing Benzie Central, Kalkaska and Traverse City Christian – Up North Live
10. Boys Tennis: LPD2 No. 4 Midland Dow swept Gibraltar Carlson and Bay City Western – Midland Daily News
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.)