Today in the MHSAA: 9/27/16

September 27, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Shutout was the name of the game Monday, with top soccer teams holding opponents scoreless and Brighton’s girls golf team shutting out the competition all fall.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Girls Golf

Brighton finished a regular season during which it won all of its events by claiming the Milford Invitational title Monday – Livingston Daily Argus & Press

Boys Soccer

Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, No. 2 in Division 4, played to a draw with No. 4 North Muskegon – Muskegon Chronicle

Coldwater ran its shutout streak to seven straight with a 4-0 win over Battle Creek Lakeview – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Unranked Suttons Bay downed Division 4 No. 6 Leland 1-0 in Northwest Conference play – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Warren Fitzgerald topped St. Clair Shores South Lake 2-1 to move into a first-place tie with South Lake in the Macomb Area Conference Silver – Macomb Daily

Boys Tennis

In a matchup of Lower Peninsula title contenders, Midland Dow, No, 1 in Division 2, and Division 1 No. 2 Troy played to a 4-4 tie Monday – Midland Daily News

From Saturday, Essexville Garber won its 15th Bay County Cup in 17 years and third straight – Bay City Times

Volleyball

Allen Park remained undefeated in the Downriver League by handing Wyandotte Roosevelt its first conference loss, in five sets – Southgate News-Herald

Good Read

Many of our teams across Michigan host or play in charity games each season. The Byron Center volleyball team switched things up this fall to play for another charity especially close to its heart – Grand Rapids Press

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.

The band performs at Holland West Ottawa's athletics complex.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.)