Today in the MHSAA: 9/6/18
September 6, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
1. Volleyball: Traverse City Central earned its first win over rival West this decade, in three sets – WPBN
2. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 10 Grand Haven defeated Grand Rapids Northview and Grandville but fell to East Grand Rapids in a Wednesday quad – Grand Haven Tribune
3. Volleyball: After more than a decade as part of a co-op with Chassell, Painesdale-Jeffers has its own volleyball team again and earned its first win of the new era over Baraga – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
4. Volleyball: Division 1 honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek claimed the Rochester City Cup finishing ahead of its three neighbors – Oakland Press
5. Golf: Big Rapids won big in the Central State Activities Association, claiming the latest league meet by 71 strokes – Big Rapids News
6. Boys Soccer: Josh Varney scored both goals as Brownstown Woodhaven improved to 6-1 with a shutout of Trenton – Southgate News-Herald
7. Boys Soccer: Leland improved to 7-1-1 with a big win over Buckley, a Division 4 semifinalist last season – MI Sports Now
8. Boys Soccer: Melvindale stayed perfect in league play with a 3-2 win over Allen Park – Southgate News-Herald
9. Volleyball: Gaylord came back from dropping the first set to defeat Petoskey in four – Cadillac News
10. Cross Country: Gladstone swept the North Central Invitational championships – Escanaba Daily 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.)