Today in the MHSAA: 9/29/20
September 29, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Lower Peninsula girls golf postseason begins next week, and Monday saw contenders continue to thrive as they build toward championship challenges. Finalists for the state's elite volleyball award also were announced.
1. Girls Golf: Bloomfield Hills Marian – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – shot a 304 to win the Detroit Catholic League championship tournament – Oakland Press
2. Girls Golf: LPD2 No. 9 Okemos shot 332 and LPD4 No. 2 Montague 352 to take the top two places at the East Lansing Invitational – Local Sports Journal
3. Boys Soccer: Elk Rapids ran its shutout streak to seven games in defeating Charlevoix 8-0 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
4. Volleyball: Division 4 top-ranked Mendon came back after losing the first set to defeat Constantine in four – JoeInsider.com
5. Volleyball: Pentwater swept Big Rapids Crossroads to move to 5-0 this fall – Ludington Daily News
6. Girls Golf: Zeeland East’s Bailey Bravata was medalist and LPD2 No. 6 Muskegon Mona Shores the team winner at the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green jamboree – Holland Sentinel
7. Volleyball: Marquette moved to 8-1 overall with a sweep of Gladstone – WLUC
8. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran swept Midland Bullock Creek, handing the Lancers their first league loss – Midland Daily News
9. Boys Soccer: Clinton came back to defeat Onsted 3-2 – Adrian Daily Telegram
10. Volleyball: Portage Central swept Kalamazoo Central – WWMT
Also of note …
Volleyball: The Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association announced its Miss Volleyball Award finalists – MIVCA
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.)