Today in the MHSAA: 9/21/20
September 22, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A matchup of ranked tennis powers highlighted a weekend that saw some of the best in multiple sports face off in a variety of multi-team events across the state.
1. Boys Tennis: Chelsea – ranked No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – edged No. 10 Allegan by five points to win the latter’s invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News
2. Cross Country: Hart, Traverse City Central and White Cloud swept races at the Ludington Invitational; both Hart teams and the Traverse City Central girls are ranked No. 1 in their respective divisions (3 and 1), and the Central boys are No. 8 – Athletic.net/Ludington Daily News/Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Holland West Ottawa defeated rival Holland 115-66; both are honorable mentions in their respective divisions (1 and 2) – Holland Sentinel
4. Boys Soccer: Battle Creek Lakeview won the All-City title with a shootout win over Harper Creek – Battle Creek Enquirer
5. Volleyball: Cheboygan went 2-1 at the Charlevoix quad, including handing the first loss of this season to the host Red Rayders – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
6. Cross Country: LPD1 No. 6 Romeo and a standout Macomb Dakota freshman set the pace for the Macomb Area Conference Red girls jamboree – Macomb Daily
7. Boys Soccer: Traverse City Christian shut out Tawas, Cheboygan and Alpena by a combined 14-0 score to win Alpena’s Huron Shores Tournament – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Cross Country: Bay City John Glenn’s boys edged Gladwin’s in a tie-breaker to win the Sanford Meridian Invitational – Bay City Times
9. Volleyball: Cadillac won five straight matches after falling to Lake Odessa Lakewood to open its super quad – Cadillac News
10. Volleyball: Montague improved to 12-1 this fall with three more wins – Local Sports 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.)