Today in the MHSAA: 9/28/20
September 29, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A possible preview of this week’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 Girls Tennis Finals topped the weekend’s most notable media coverage across a variety of sports statewide.
1. Girls Tennis: Negaunee won seven of eight flight championships to claim the team title at the Mid-Peninsula Conference Tournament; Ishpeming Westwood was runner-up – Marquette Mining Journal
2. Boys Tennis: Lower Peninsula Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and No. 5 Midland Dow tied for first at the former’s quad which also included LPD1 No. 12 Rockford and LPD4 No. 2 Traverse City St. Francis – Midland Daily News
3. Cross Country: Hart (LPD3 No. 1 girls, No. 2 boys) and McBain (LPD3 No. 10 girls, No. 9 boys) swept races at the Cougar Falcon Invitational at Calvin University – Athletic.net
4. Cross Country: Five girls broke 19 minutes and two boys broke 16 at the Petoskey Invitational – Athletic.net
5. Boys Soccer: Holland moved to 9-0 with a 2-1 win over Grand Rapids Union – Holland Sentinel
6. Cross Country: The LPD1 honorable mention Northville boys and unranked Macomb Dakota girls won titles at Anchor Bay’s James Cleverley Invitational – Athletic.net
7. Volleyball: Oscoda won its Linda Hennigan Tournament – WBKB
8. Cross Country: Manistee High swept races featuring the three Manistee County teams – Manistee News Advocate
9. Volleyball: Division 4 No. 10 Carney-Nadeau hosted and defeated Kingsford, Menominee and Stephenson – Escanaba Daily Press
10. Boys Tennis: LPD1 No. 2 Ann Arbor Pioneer improved to 10-1 with a win over Rochester – We Love Ann Arbor
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.)