Today in the MHSAA: 9/24/19
September 24, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Two of the Lower Peninsula’s four top-ranked girls golf teams won tournaments Monday and a third finished runner-up as many of the best in that sport continued to prep for playoff conditions with the postseason beginning in two weeks.
1. Girls Golf: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Northville repeated as Coach Miller Invitational champion against a field that included No. 3 Brighton, No. 8 Grand Blanc and No. 9 Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Girls Golf: Almont swept all of its matches and the league tournament to lock up the Blue Water Area Conference championship – Port Huron Times-Herald
3. Girls Golf: Davison shot a 343 to edge LPD3 No. 1 Flint Powers Catholic by six strokes and win the Midland Dow Invitational – Midland Daily News
4. Boys Soccer: McBain Northern Michigan Christian handed Division 3 No. 12 Gladwin its first defeat, 1-0 – Cadillac News
5. Boys Soccer: Alpena blanked Alcona 5-0 to break a school record from 1996 with its 13th shutout this fall – Alpena News
6. Girls Golf: LPD4 No. 1 Harbor Springs battled wet, windy conditions to shoot a season-low 339 and win the Cheboygan Invitational against a field that included LPD2 No. 10 Petoskey – Petoskey News-Review
7. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 15 New Baltimore Anchor Bay held on to first place in the Macomb Area Conference White with a 3-0 win over second-place Grosse Pointe North – Macomb Daily
8. Girls Golf: Host and LPD3 No. 6 Big Rapids shot a 353 to win the Tullymore Invitational against a field that included LPD1 No. 5 Bloomfield Hills – Manistee News Advocate
9. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Manistique moved to 17-1-2 with a sweep of Iron Mountain – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Boys soccer: Division 1 No. 9 Livonia Stevenson and Dearborn have just one loss between them and tied 2-2 in their latest meeting – Observer & Eccentric
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.)