Today In The MHSAA: 9/23/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 23, 2021
1. GIRLS TENNIS Escanaba locked up the Great Northern Conference championship with a league tournament victory – Escanaba Daily Press
2. BOYS SOCCER A 4-2 win over Leland has Buckley a big step closer to claiming its first Northwest Conference title since 1999 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. CROSS COUNTRY The Bronson boys and Kalamazoo Christian girls claimed Parchment Invitational championships; Kalamazoo Christian is the top-ranked team in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
4. VOLLEYBALL Beaverton swept Clare to hold on to first place alone in the Jack Pine Conference – Midland Daily News
5. BOYS SOCCER Division 4 No. 9 McBain Northern Michigan Christian finished a season sweep of Gladwin with a 2-0 win to remain first alone in the Northern Michigan Soccer League – Cadillac News
6. VOLLEYBALL St. Joseph defeated Stevensville Lakeshore in four sets in a “Dig Pink” matchup dedicated to cancer awareness and research – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
7. CROSS COUNTRY Mason County Eastern swept team first places at the second West Michigan D League jamboree; MCE’s boys are ranked No. 11 in LPD4 – Ludington Daily News
8. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 No. 9 Essexville Garber earned a sweep of rival Bay City John Glenn – WJRT
9. BOYS TENNIS Holland improved to 14-3 and remained perfect in league play with a 7-1 win over Zeeland West – Holland Sentinel
10. VOLLEYBALL Frankenmuth improved to 8-3 with a four-set win over Saginaw Swan Valley – Saginaw News
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.)