Today in the MHSAA: 9/25/17
September 25, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Girls Swimming & Diving: Host East Grand Rapids – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – outpaced LPD1 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy in winning the Pioneer Classic – PrepSwimming.com
2. Volleyball: Honorable mention DeWitt downed reigning Class A champion and current No. 3 Novi in the semifinal and No. 8 Bloomfield Hills Marian in the championship match to win the Novi Invitational.
3. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 8 Grand Haven could be on the move this week after a 3-1 win over No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central – Grand Haven Tribune
4. Girls Golf: All six Bay City Central golfers posted season-low scores as the team scored a tournament record 362 to win the Bay County Golf Championship – Bay City Times
5. Volleyball: Class D No. 2 Leland downed Class B No. 10 Montague in the championship match of the Morley Stanwood Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. Volleyball: Class B No. 9 Kingsley downed Class C honorable mention McBain in both pool play and the tournament final of the Ramblers’ tournament – Cadillac News
7. Girls Cross Country: Traverse City Central (LPD1 No. 3) and lead runner Sielle Kearney won titles in the Eagle division of the Grand Rapids Cougar Falcon Invitational, Kearney followed by reigning LPD2 runner-up Anna Fischer of St. Joseph – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Volleyball: Class D No. 8 Onaway came back from a set down to beat Cheboygan and win the St. Ignace Invitational – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
9. Boys Soccer: Division 3 No. 10 Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard downed host Alpena 2-0 to win the Huron Shores Tournament – Alpena News
10. Cross Country: The Berrien Springs boys (LPD3 honorable mention) and South Haven girls won Tri-State Invitational championships, with Zeeland East (boys are LPD2 No. 13) finishing second in both races – Niles Daily Star
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.)