Today In The MHSAA: 9/28/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 28, 2021

2. GIRLS GOLF Ann Arbor Pioneer – No. 4 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – shot a 322 to edge Skyline by five strokes and win the Southeastern Conference championship tournament – We Love Ann Arbor

2. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 2 Holland Christian avenged last season’s District Final loss with a 3-1 win over Holland, which is playing in Division 2 this season and ranked No. 5 – Holland Sentinel

3. GIRLS GOLF Traverse City Central edged Traverse City West by seven strokes to win the Cheboygan Invitational – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

4. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 5 Kalamazoo Christian won the Bridgman Invitational – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

5. GIRLS TENNIS Ishpeming Westwood closed the regular season with a 7-1 win over Marquette – Marquette Mining Journal

6. BOYS SOCCER Murad Mohamed scored four goals as Downriver League leader Dearborn Edsel Ford downed Taylor – Southgate News-Herald

7. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 7 McBain swept Manton and McBain Northern Michigan Christian to remain undefeated in the Highland Conference – Cadillac News

8. VOLLEYBALL Saugatuck improved to 17-2 with a sweep of Gobles – Holland Sentinel

9. BOYS SOCCER Buckley edged Benzie Central 3-2 to remain undefeated in the Northwest Conference – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. BOYS SOCCER Ogemaw Heights improved to 13-2 with a 4-1 win over Cheboygan – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

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.)