Today in the MHSAA: 9/24/20
September 24, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A local girls golf tournament with statewide implications topped Wednesday’s list of headliners, with key contests in soccer and tennis following closely behind among biggest newsmakers.
1. Girls Golf: Ann Arbor Pioneer, ranked No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 365 to win the Ann Arbor City Tournament ahead of No. 8 Ann Arbor Skyline – We Love Ann Arbor
2. Boys Soccer: Riverview won a match of unbeatens, downing reigning Division 3 champion Grosse Ile 2-1 – Southgate News-Herald
3. Boys Soccer: Linden improved to 6-0 and moved into first in the Flint Metro League Stripes alone with a 4-2 win over now second-place Fenton – Flint Journal
4. Boys Tennis: LPD4 No. 8 North Muskegon won a matchup of ranked teams 6-2 over No. 15 Ludington – Local Sports Journal
5. Girls Golf: Holland West Ottawa shot a 197 to edge Zeeland West for the annual Wooden Shoe Invitational championship – Holland Sentinel
6. Boys Soccer: First-place Leland opened up its lead in the Northwest Conference with a 5-0 win over second-place Maple City Glen Lake – Up North Live
7. Volleyball: St. Joseph swept Stevensville Lakeshore in their “Dig Pink” matchup – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
8. Volleyball: Midland Bullock Creek came back after losing the third and fourth sets to defeat St. Louis in five – Midland Daily News
9. Volleyball: Fraser swept Grosse Pointe South in a league match – Macomb Daily
10. Boys Soccer: Bad Axe improved to 5-1 with a 7-2 win over Unionville-Sebewaing – Huron Daily Tribune
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.)