Today in the MHSAA: 9/7/17
September 7, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Football: Farmington Hills Harrison will rename its stadium entrance for longtime leader John Herrington, who is closing in on the state’s coaching wins record for football – Observer & Eccentric
2. Soccer: The Battle Creek Enquirer looks at ways its local schools are working to decrease head injuries in soccer, where concussions aren’t nearly as publicized as in football – Battle Creek Enquirer
3. Volleyball: Rudyard continued to build its case as the No. 10 team in Class D with sweeps of Pickford and St. Ignace to improve to 6-1-2 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
4. Boys Soccer: Rochester remained undefeated at 4-0-3 with a key tie against Clarkston in Oakland Activities Association Red play – Oakland Press
5. Cross Country: The Shepherd boys and Cadillac girls won championships at the Bluejays’ 19-team invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. Girls Golf: Freeland, No. 6 in Lower Peninsula Division 3, won its second Tri-Valley Conference jamboree with a season-best 176 – Midland Daily News
7. Girls Golf: Caledonia shot a 178 to win the third Ottawa-Kent Conference Red jamboree by two strokes over Hudsonville – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Boys Soccer: Manistee continued its undefeated start to this season with a 3-0 win over Shelby – Manistee News Advocate
9. Boys Soccer: New Boston Huron moved to 5-0 with a 4-2 win over Carleton Airport – Detroit News
10. Boys Soccer: Sturgis netted a 1-0 win over Marshall on a first-half goal – Sturgis Journal
Also of note …
Football: Traverse City Central and Traverse City West are playing this week their annual “Patriot Game,” which draws a sellout crowd to honor those who have served and continue to do so. The Record-Eagle is doing features every day this week; this is the first – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Football: Muskegon Mona Shores also will honor former and active-duty military and first responders with its second “Sailor Salute” taking place during a big-time matchup with Rockford – Muskegon Chronicle
Football: Ionia also will host a “Patriot Game” this weekend against Fowlerville, again to honor those who have and continue to serve – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
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.)