Today in the MHSAA: 9/8/17
September 8, 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. Cross Country: Negaunee’s Emily Paupore ran a Marquette County Meet record 19:09, 14 seconds faster than the previous record run in 2015 by Redettes standout Lindsey Rudden – Marquette Mining Journal
2. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion and current No. 3 Novi swept rival Northville to improve to 13-1 this fall – Observer & Eccentric
3. Girls Golf: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Traverse City West won the Petoskey Invitational by 46 strokes with a 309 – Petoskey News-Review
4. Football: Battle Creek Central and Battle Creek Lakeview continue a rivalry this weekend that goes back to 1963; this details the history of the matchup, which has seen both teams win 24 times since 1969 – Battle Creek Enquirer
5. Volleyball: Class B No. 4 Marysville won all three matches of a strong quad also featuring St. Clair, Fraser and Sterling Heights Stevenson – Port Huron Times Herald
6. Boys Soccer: Birmingham Brother Rice edged Detroit Catholic Central 1-0 in a key Catholic League Central matchup; DCC was among the highest-ranked teams in Division 1 last season – Oakland Press
7. Girls Swimming & Diving: Holland Christian, No. 2 in LPD3, downed LPD1 honorable mention Grand Haven – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Volleyball: Standout sophomore Celia Cullen had 18 kills and 19 assists in Brighton’s four-set win over Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
9. Volleyball: St. Clair Shores Lakeview won the “War in the Shores” tri-match for the third straight year, earning victories over neighbors South Lake and Lake Shore – Macomb Daily
10. Volleyball: For the first time in at least three years, Bay City Western downed Midland Dow, doing so in three sets after winning the first by only two points – Midland Daily News
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.)