Today In The MHSAA: 9/3/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 3, 2021
1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Holland West Ottawa – an honorable mention in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – earned an impressive 112-72 victory over No. 7 Zeeland – Holland Sentinel
2. GIRLS GOLF Traverse City Central shot a 352 to win the Petoskey Invitational – Petoskey News-Review
3. CROSS COUNTRY Pinckney’s Caleb Jarema nearly reached his personal best in running the fastest boys time at the Saline Hornet Early Bird Invitational, while Plymouth’s Lauren Kiley set the girls pace – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. CROSS COUNTY Alpena swept championships at the Ogemaw Heights Invitational – Cadillac News
5. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention McBain improved to 13-1-1 with wins over Traverse City St. Francis and Big Rapids – Cadillac News
6. BOYS SOCCER Goals were plentiful as Manistee downed Benzie Central 8-6 – Manistee News Advocate
7. VOLLEYBALL Iron Mountain earned a victory in both leagues in which it plays with a sweep of Ishpeming – Iron Mountain Daily News
8. BOYS SOCCER Dowagiac earned a second-straight shutout, this one over Constantine – Niles Daily Star
9. VOLLEYBALL Escanaba opened Great Northern Conference play with a sweep of Menominee – Escanaba Daily Press
10. VOLLEYBALL Niles Brandywine got back to .500 with a 3-0 win over New Buffalo – Niles Daily Star
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.)