Today in the MHSAA: 8/26/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 26, 2024
1. CROSS COUNTRY Benzie Central swept small-school championships at its annual Pete Moss Invitational, while the Traverse City West girls and Jenison boys won big-school titles – Traverse City Record-Eagle | Athletic.net
2. VOLLEYBALL Kingsford edged Crystal Falls Forest Park in the final to win its home invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News
3. GIRLS GOLF Goodrich carded a 330 to win Midland Dow’s Frank Altimore Invitational – Midland Daily News
4. CROSS COUNTRY The Grosse Pointe South and Brighton girls and South Lyon East and Northville boys won Livonia Lamplighter Invitational titles – Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Athletic.net
5. VOLLEYBALL Shelby swept Saginaw Heritage in the final to clinch the Cadillac Invitational championship – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. BOYS SOCCER Trent Phillips scored his first career goal and then a title clincher as Bay City John Glenn downed Bay City Western to win the Bay County tournament – Bay City Times
7. BOYS SOCCER Battle Creek Harper Creek downed Battle Creek Lakeview 1-0 to claim its first All-City championship since 2008 – Battle Creek Enquirer
8. CROSS COUNTRY The Freeland and DeWitt girls and Midland boys were among champions at St. Johns’ Under the Lights Invitational – Midland Daily News | Athletic.net
9. BOYS SOCCER Waterford Kettering edged Auburn Hills Avondale in a shootout to win the latter’s Hive Invitational – Oakland Press
10. BOYS TENNIS Jason Nejedlik won a pair of No. 1 singles matches at the Adrian Invitational to become Temperance Bedford’s career wins leader – Monroe 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.)