Today in the MHSAA: 8/29/19
August 29, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Teams across Michigan continued driving toward the holiday weekend in impressive fashion Wednesday, led by major performances on the golf and cross country courses and tennis court.
1. Girls Golf: Troy, No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 322 to win the Oakland County Division 2 Tournament championship by 16 strokes ahead of runner-up LPD3 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood – Oakland Press
2. Girls Tennis: Reigning Upper Peninsula Division 1 runner-up Marquette handed a first loss of the season to reigning UPD2 champion Ishpeming Westwood – Marquette Mining Journal
3. Cross Country: Hartland swept the Corunna Earlybird Invitational titles, both teams edging runner-up St. Johns by just a few points – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Cross Country: Charlevoix topped a strong boys field to win the East Jordan Invitational – Petoskey News-Review
5. Cross Country: Pewamo-Westphalia’s girls edged Ithaca’s by two points to win the Yellowjackets’ home invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. Volleyball: Onsted moved to 7-0 with wins over Napoleon, Division 3 honorable mention Manchester and host Adrian Madison at a quad – Adrian Daily Telegram
7. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 5 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian moved to 11-2 with wins over Zeeland East, Allendale and Montague – Local Sports Journal
8. Cross Country: Pewamo-Westphalia’s boys won the six-team Ithaca Invitational ahead of a host of Division 4 state contenders – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
9. Boys Tennis: Holland won Nos. 1 and 2 singles, but West Ottawa won the other six flights to earn a 6-2 team victory – Holland Sentinel
10. Volleyball: Freeland downed Gladwin, Bay City Western and Beaverton to move to 7-1 – 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.)