Today in the MHSAA: 9/4/19
September 4, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The start of September means the start of league play for many, and Tuesday set the stage as a number of teams – especially in boys soccer – began their conference schedules.
1. Cross Country: Dearborn Divine Child swept Division I championships at Erie Mason’s Frank Connolly Relays, while the Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central boys and Blissfield girls won the Division II titles – Monroe Evening News
2. Boys Soccer: Reigning Ottawa-Kent Conference Red co-champions Grand Haven and Caledonia played to a 1-1 draw; Grand Haven is No. 15 in Division 1 – Grand Haven Tribune
3. Boys Soccer: Traverse City West earned an impressive nonleague win, 2-0 over Division 3 No. 12 Elk Rapids – UpNorthLive
4. Boys Soccer: Livonia Stevenson ran its winning streak to five with a 6-0 victory at Franklin – Observer & Eccentric
5. Volleyball: North Muskegon emerged from a back-and-forth match to win 3-2 over Muskegon Oakridge – Local Sports Journal
6. Volleyball: Two weeks after being swept by Litchfield in its opener, Hillsdale Will Carleton returned the favor – Hillsdale Daily News
7. Boys Soccer: Dexter remained unbeaten with a 5-1 win over Ann Arbor Huron – Chelsea Sun Times News
8. Volleyball: Pellston continued to show its potential with a sweep of Harbor Springs – Petoskey News-Review
9. Boys Soccer: Freeland outshot Essexville Garber, but the Dukes emerged with a 1-0 win – Midland Daily News
10. Boys Soccer: South Lyon earned a key 1-0 league win over Walled Lake Northern – Oakland Press
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.)