Today in the MHSAA: 9/15/17
September 15, 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. Cross Country: Chassell’s girls – No. 1 in Upper Peninsula Division 3 – edged UPD2 No. 1 Ishpeming in the girls race of the Hancock Invitational, while the UPD1 No. 2 Houghton boys dominated their race – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
2. Cross Country: The Pewamo-Westphalia girls (LPD3 No. 4) and No. 3 Saugatuck boys topped loaded fields at the Ithaca Invitational, P-W’s girls ahead of the No. 6 Saugatuck girls and Saugatuck’s boys ahead of No. 5 P-W – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
3. Boys Soccer: Stevensville Lakeshore continued a recent surge with an impressive 4-1 win over Division 2 No. 7 St. Joseph – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
4. Cross Country: Harbor Springs won the large schools co-ed Boyne City Invitational by a point over Petoskey, and Ellsworth won the small-school race – Petoskey News-Review
5. Volleyball: Trenton downed reigning champion Allen Park in a Downriver League match to remain undefeated in league play – Southgate News Herald
6. Boys Soccer: Birmingham Brother Rice stayed undefeated on the season with a 3-1 win over Catholic League Central rival Warren DeLaSalle – Detroit News
7. Volleyball: Class D No. 10 Rudyard continued to hold court with a four-set win over Engadine in Eastern U.P. Conference play – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
8. Boys Soccer: Connor Lund had three goals and an assist to lead Division 1 No. 10 Grand Haven past Rockford 5-2 – Local Sports Journal
9. Football: It’s impossible to not applaud athletes working hard while they wait their turns – in this case, three Pinckney seniors who hardly saw the field in 2016 but are making big contributions this fall – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
10. Girls Swimming & Diving: DeWitt freshman Jordyn Shipps is the daughter of her school’s most celebrated swimmer ever, Steve Shipps, and she’s quickly showing plenty of talent as well for the LPD3 honorable mention Panthers – Lansing State Journal
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.)