Today in the MHSAA: 9/12/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 12, 2022
1. CROSS COUNTRY The Holland West Ottawa girls – top-ranked in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – followed record-setter Helen Sachs to a Bredeweg Invitational title; the LPD1 No. 2 Grand Haven boys won their race – Holland Sentinel | Athletic.net
2. BOYS TENNIS LPD1 No. 3 Troy won a loaded Novi Invitational, followed by the No. 4 Wildcats, No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice and No. 10 (tie) Ann Arbor Huron – Oakland Press
3. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 7 Saline, LPD2 No. 4 Goodrich and LPD3 No. 8 Leslie girls and LPD1 top-ranked Northville and LPD3 No. 9 Hanover-Horton boys were among winners at the Bath Invitational – Athletic.net
4. VOLLEYBALL Houghton avenged last season’s championship match loss in defeating Kingsford to win Gladstone’s Rock Invitational – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
5. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 8 Traverse City West girls and Canton boys won at the Northwood Invitational – Midland Daily News | Athletic.net
6. VOLLEYBALL Traverse City Central won every set including sweeping Kingsley in the final to win its home invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. GIRLS GOLF Sturgis shot a 412 to win its inaugural Team Choice Invitational – JoeInsider.com
8. CROSS COUNTRY The Hartland girls and LPD2 No. 3 Adrian boys won Rambling Rock Invitational titles – Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Atheltic.net
9. VOLLEYBALL Manton swept all seven of its matches to win its home invitational – Cadillac News
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Plymouth girls and Monroe boys were victorious at the Woodhaven Warrior Classic – Southgate News-Herald | Athletic.net
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.)