Today in the MHSAA: 9/8/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 8, 2022
1. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Cadillac won the first two sets and hung on to win the fifth in defeating Traverse City Central – Cadillac News
2. BOYS SOCCER A matchup of top teams in Division 3 ended in a draw between No. 5 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and No. 2 Detroit Country Day – Oakland Press
3. BOYS SOCCER Arturo Romero added four more goals in Muskegon Oakridge’s 4-1 win over Ravenna – MuskegonSports.com
4. CROSS COUNTRY Both St. Louis teams, the Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and Freeland boys won Shepherd John Bruder Classic championships; the Pioneer girls are ranked No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, St. Louis’ girls are an honorable mention in LPD3, St. Louis’ boys are No. 5 in LPD3 and Freeland’s boys are No. 9 in LPD2 – Athletic.net
5. CROSS COUNTRY Both Manchester teams, both Marshall teams, the LPD3 No. 12 Onsted girls and LPD3 No. 9 Hanover-Horton boys won Springport Invitational titles – Athletic.net
6. BOYS SOCCER Midland’s Jon Jenkins also scored four goals in his team’s win over Bay City Central – Midland Daily News
7. VOLLEYBALL Boyne City won the final three sets to defeat Cheboygan in five – Petoskey News-Review
8. BOYS SOCCER Sean Gieske scored three first-half goals in Fruitport’s win over Coopersville – MuskegonSports.com
9. VOLLEYBALL Union City came back after losing the first set to defeat Jonesville in five – Coldwater Daily Reporter
10. BOYS SOCCER Manistee shut out Shelby 5-0, with Jacob Scharp assisting on three goals – Local Sports Journal
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.)