Today in the MHSAA: 9/22/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 22, 2022
1. GIRLS GOLF Montague – No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – won a third-straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tournament title, shooting a 361 to outpace the field by 27 strokes – CatchMark SportsNet
2. GIRLS TENNIS Escanaba edged Marquette by two points to claim the Great Northern Conference Tournament championship – Upper Michigan Source
3. BOYS SOCCER Buckley moved into first place alone in the Northwest Conference with a 2-1 win over Division 4 No. 14 Leland – MI Sports Now
4. GIRLS GOLF Traverse City Central shot a 344 to win the Cadillac Invitational – Cadillac News
5. GIRLS GOLF East Jordan edged Cheboygan by four strokes to win the Charlevoix Invitational – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
6. BOYS SOCCER Midland Bullock Creek avenged its lone league loss this fall with a 5-1 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran – Midland Daily News
7. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD4 No. 10 Beal City girls and Manton boys won the first Highland Conference jamborees – Cadillac News
8. BOYS SOCCER Midland Dow handed Saginaw Heritage its first league loss, 5-1 – Midland Daily News
9. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 13 Frankenmuth shut out Freeland 3-0 – Mid-Michigan Now
10. VOLLEYBALL Stevensville Lakeshore swept St. Joseph in a match where the first two sets were decided by three and two points, respectively – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
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.)