Today in the MHSAA: 9/25/20
September 29, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Volleyball headlines dominated Thursday as matchups of state-ranked teams and individual accomplishments made for a full night of noteworthy performances.
1. Volleyball: After losing the first set, Division 4 honorable mention Battle Creek St. Philip won the next three to defeat No. 8 Camden-Frontier – Hillsdale Daily News
2. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 8 Clarkston came back from a two-set deficit to defeat honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in five – Oakland Press
3. Volleyball: Hudson’s Callie Bauer went over 2,000 career kills while leading her team to wins over Homer and Hanover-Horton; the Tigers are ranked No. 7 in Division 3 – Adrian Daily Telegram
4. Volleyball: Trenton swept reigning Downriver League champ Brownstown Woodhaven – Southgate News-Herald
5. Girls Golf: Hartland – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 172 to edge Brighton by six strokes – Livingston Daily
6. Volleyball: Temperance Bedford dealt Monroe its first defeat of the season, in a sweep – Monroe News
7. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 9 Northville moved to 4-0 with a sweep of Livonia Stevenson – Observer & Eccentric
8. Boys Soccer: Traverse City West scored four second-half goals to get past Petoskey 5-1 – Up North Live
9. Boys Soccer: Detroit Catholic Central got past Detroit U-D Jesuit 2-0 – Oakland Press
10. Volleyball: Houghton swept Ishpeming in its last match before a two-week break – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
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.)