Today in the MHSAA: 8/28/20
August 28, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Contenders in girls golf continued to emerge Thursday, as did a possible girls tennis contender in the Upper Peninsula.
1. Girls Golf: Anci Dy led a dominating Traverse City West performance as the Titans won the Midland Dow Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Girls Golf: St. Joseph and Portage Northern freshman KT Leinwand were the winners at Thursday’s Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference event – WWMT
3. Girls Tennis: Escanaba earned a 4-4 tie with Marquette, the reigning Upper Peninsula Division 1 champion – Escanaba Daily Press
4. Volleyball: Opening night was senior night as well as Manton downed Clare 3-1 – Cadillac News
5. Boys Soccer: Cadillac scored both of its goals during the second half of a 2-1 win over Leland – Up North Live
6. Volleyball: Carney-Nadeau allowed only 26 points over a three-game sweep of Crystal Falls Forest Park – Iron Mountain Daily News
7. Volleyball: Gladwin traveled north and brought home a five-set win over Grayling – Midland Daily News
8. Volleyball: Alpena swept Cheboygan, Hillman and Rogers City in a home quad – Alpena News
9. Volleyball: Mackinaw City opened with a sweep of DeTour – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
10. Girls Golf: Hudsonville Unity Christian shot a 187 to get past Holland Christian in league play – Holland Sentinel
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.)