Today in the MHSAA: 9/27/17
September 27, 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. Volleyball: Class A No. 3 Lake Orion swept rival and No. 6-ranked Clarkston to create a three-way tie for first in the Oakland Activities Association Red with honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek – Oakland Press
2. Girls Golf: Brighton, No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, shot a 306 to finish 24 strokes ahead of runner-up and No. 7 Northville and win the Jim Sander Memorial Tournament – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. Cross Country: The Houghton boys (UPD1 No. 1) and Negaunee girls (UPD1 No. 3) won El Harger Memorial Invitational championships in Munising, Houghton’s boys ahead of Ishpeming (UPD2 No. 1) and Negaunee’s girls ahead of Sault Ste. Marie (UPD1 No. 1) – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
4. Boys Soccer: North Farmington goalkeeper Zach Shuk earned his sixth straight shutout in a 2-0 win over Birmingham Seaholm – Detroit News
5. Volleyball: Macomb Dakota stayed undefeated in the Macomb Area Conference Red with a sweep of New Baltimore Anchor Bay; both teams are honorable mentions in Class A – Macomb Daily
6. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 No. 10 Byron Center came on strong at the end to edge LPD1 honorable mention Zeeland 96-89 – Holland Sentinel
7. Girls Golf: LPD2 top-ranked Midland Dow shot a 324 to win its own invitational, finishing 20 strokes better than the field – Midland Daily News
8. Girls Golf: LPD2 No. 3 St. Joseph continued its season dominance, winning the Sturgis Invitational with a 354, four strokes ahead of Battle Creek Lakeview – Sturgis Journal
9. Volleyball: Lake Linden-Hubbell has won seven straight league championships and took a big step toward making it eight with a sweep of top challenger Chassell – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
10. Volleyball: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer stopped four-time reigning Ottawa-Kent Conference Black champion Muskegon Mona Shores in five sets – Local Sports Journal
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.)