Today in the MHSAA: 8/29/18
August 29, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Girls Golf: Traverse City West shot a 313 to win the Alpena Invitational by 69 strokes – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. Girls Swimming & Diving: Holland West Ottawa downed Zeeland by 26 points in a matchup of top programs statewide – Holland Sentinel
3. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 9 Beaverton improved to 20-0 this fall with a pair of victories – Midland Daily News
4. Boys Soccer: Salem stayed undefeated with a scoreless draw against rival Plymouth – Observer & Eccentric
5. Volleyball: Hillsdale Academy won the fifth set 16-14 to take a thriller against rival Hillsdale High – Hillsdale Daily News
6. Boys Soccer: Aidan Day scored four goals to lead Alpena over Sault Ste. Marie – Alpena News
7. Boys Soccer: Rivals Rochester and Rochester Adams played to a 2-2 draw – Oakland Press
8. Girls Swimming & Diving: Although Midland finished 1-2 as a team at the Highland Milford quad, Claire Newsman shined with two individual MHSAA Finals cuts and a third as part of a relay – Midland Daily News
9. Boys Soccer: Saline opened its league schedule with a 2-0 win over Ann Arbor Huron – Saline Post
10. Volleyball: Harrison came back from a 2-1 deficit to edge Lake City in five sets – MI Sports Now
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.)