Today in the MHSAA: 9/22/20
September 22, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Golf and volleyball dominated Monday’s headlines statewide, topped by a matchup of the top two teams in Lower Peninsula Division 1 links.
1. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 2 Rochester Adams shot a 306 to win the Midland Dow Invitational by three strokes ahead of top-ranked Northville – Midland Daily News
2. Volleyball: By just a combined eight points, Farmington Hills Mercy swept rival Bloomfield Hills Marian – Oakland Press
3. Girls Golf: LPD1 No. 7 Hartland shot a 330 to win the Coach Miller Invitational at Oak Pointe – Livingston Daily
4. Volleyball: Kent City moved to 5-0-2 with a comeback win over annual power Morley Stanwood – Local Sports Journal
5. Girls Golf: LPD4 No. 2 Montague shot a 353 to win the Lady Tullymore Invitational in Big Rapids – Local Sports Journal
6. Girls Golf: Anci Dy’s 66 led Traverse City West to a Big North Conference win in Cadillac – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. Boys Tennis: LPD4 No. 8 North Muskegon and previously-ranked Whitehall played to a 4-4 tie – Local Sports Journal
8. Boys Soccer: Whitehall improved to 6-0 with a 4-1 win over Muskegon Oakridge – Local Sports Journal
9. Volleyball: Richmond came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Marine City in five – Port Huron Times Herald
10. Volleyball: Sturgis avenged 2019 losses to Otsego and South Haven and also defeated Battle Creek Harper Creek – JoeInsider.com
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.)