Today in the MHSAA: 8/31/17
August 31, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Volleyball: Class A No. 4 Lake Orion continues to shine this fall, going 6-0 to win the Rochester Hills Stoney Creek Invitational and downing Adams in the final – Oakland Press
2. Boys Cross Country: Rudyard emerged with a Northwoods Invitational title by a point over runner-up Brimley, but Brimley’s reigning Upper Peninsula Division 3 champion Austin Plotkin took the individual title – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
3. Girls Golf: Walled Lake Central and Birmingham Groves took the top two places at the Oakland County Division 2 championship, advancing them to the overall county final – Oakland Press
4. Boys Soccer: Undefeated Ann Arbor Skyline edged rival Pioneer 1-0 on a second-half goal – Detroit News
5. Cross Country: The Corunna boys and Byron girls teams were among winners at the annual Corunna Early Bird Invitational, which drew more than 700 runners – Owosso Argus & Press | Athletic.net
6. Girls Golf: Harbor Springs continues to impress as well, lowering its score to a season-best 353 in winning a match at Traverse City St. Francis – Petoskey News-Review
7. Boys Soccer: East Kentwood dealt Grand Haven its first loss of this season, 3-2 – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Volleyball: Class B No. 6 Fruitport earned a pair of key league victories against Muskegon Mona Shores and Muskegon Reeths-Puffer – Grand Haven Tribune
9. Football: After both losing beloved assistant coaches in May, Battle Creek Central and Battle Creek St. Philip are making sure to keep their memories alive – Battle Creek Enquirer
10. Football: As writer Lenny Padilla states, East Kentwood 6-foot-6, 245-pound football player Bryce Mostella “might be the most imposing xylophone player in the United State” – Grand Rapids Press
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.)