Today in the MHSAA: 9/13/17
September 13, 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. Girls Golf: Brighton’s Heather Fortushniak tied her team’s nine-hole record with a 33 in a win over Grand Blanc at former PGA Tour stop Warwick Hills – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Boys Soccer: Zack Shane’s hat trick in a 4-2 win over Grand Rapids Union gave him Fruitport’s career goals and points records – Muskegon Chronicle
3. Cross Country: In one of the most loaded league jamborees in the state, Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 1 Ann Arbor Pioneer won in the Southeastern Conference boys race over Division 2 No. 2 Chelsea and Division 1 No. 3 Saline, while in the girls race LPD1 top-ranked Pioneer took first ahead of No. 5 Saline and No. 10 Pinckney – Saline Post | Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Athletic.net
4, Cross Country: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s boys and girls teams, both ranked No. 1 in LPD4, swept titles at the Beal City Invitational, the girls ahead of No. 3 Fowler and the boys ahead of No. 7 Beal City –Mount Pleasant Morning Sun | Athletic.net
5. Cross Country: Negaunee’s Colton Yesney set a course record of 16:24 and Miners sophomore Emily Paupore also won individually, while the Houghton boys (UPD1 No. 2) and Marquette girls (UPD1 No. 1) claimed the Kingsford Invitational team titles – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette | Superior Timing
6. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 4 Northville, while a player down, scored the go-ahead goal with 14 seconds left to hand No. 17 Plymouth its first loss, 2-1 – Detroit News
7. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 honorable mention Midland Dow doubled up No. 9 Saginaw Heritage, 123-60 – Midland Daily News
8. Boys Soccer: Brighton scored two goals over the final 10 minutes to upend Division 1 No. 19 Hartland 2-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
9. Cross Country: Macomb L’Anse Creuse standout Karenna Duffey added another win, running 19:29 to claim the first Macomb Area Conference Red jamboree by 28 seconds – Macomb Daily | Athletic.net
10. Girls Swimming & Diving: Undefeated Bridgman set four pool records in doubling up St. Joseph 126-60 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Also of note:
Volleyball: In a match to stay in a first-place tie in the Downriver League, Wyandotte Roosevelt downed Allen Park in five sets – Southgate News Herald
Volleyball: From Saturday, Class B No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep downed Class C top-ranked Bronson in three sets to win the Battle Creek Lakeview Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Boys Soccer: From Monday, Cassopolis got past Hartford 2-0 in a battle of frontrunners in the Southwest 10 Conference – Niles Daily Star
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.)