Today in the MHSAA: 9/14/20
September 15, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A busy stretch in high school sports administration put “MHSAA Today” on hold last week – but another busy weekend statewide saw teams continue to find their grooves, and we’re back to highlight those stories again.
1. Girls Golf: Rochester Adams – ranked No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 320 to win the Jackson Invitational – JTV
2. Cross Country: Salem swept Northville in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West races – Observer & Eccentric
3. Cross Country: Napoleon swept the Addison Kuenner Invitational, its girls team winning on a tie-breaker – JTV
4. Volleyball: Petoskey won its invitational defeating Elk Rapids, Sault Ste. Marie and Onaway – Petoskey News-Review
5. Cross Country: Chelsea swept Hillsdale Academy Invitational championships – Chelsea Sun Times News
6. Volleyball: Bronson defeated Battle Creek St. Philip and fell to Marshall in a high-powered tri – Coldwater Daily Reporter
7. Volleyball: Traverse City West swept Richland Gull Lake, Grand Haven and Muskegon Western Michigan Christian at the Fruitport quad – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Volleyball: Mendon opened 6-0 with back-to-back quad sweeps – JoeInsider.com
9. Volleyball: Montague also moved to 6-0 with wins over North Muskegon, Fruitport and Muskegon Mona Shores – Local Sports Journal
10. Cross Country: Ann Arbor Skyline swept a pair of four-team races at Adrian – We Love Ann Arbor
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.)