2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Overview 

2023 GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

It's time for the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Lansing Center.  We started out with a nice social hour where the inductees, their families and friends mingled as I played cocktail piano.  

After the invocation and a great chicken breast buffet dinner prepared really well by the Lansing Center Staff, it was time for the ceremony to begin.  

Bob Every, the Director of the Hall of Fame gave opening remarks thanking the Lansing State Journal for printing articles about the 2023 inductees.  He then cited Duane Vernon and Don Monette, who had served the hall as volunteers for many years and contributed much.

After this, he introduced the Hall's sponsors (including your Bleacher Denizen) and thanked them for their support.  

Every year, he invites previous inductees and winners of the Dick Letts volunteer award to come up and introduce themselves.  About 25 past inductees accepted the invitation and were honored by the audience.  

Bob Every then introduced the 2023 inductees.

Melanie Miller

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Bryan Smith

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_14.html 

Christina Cleland-Hursey

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_1.html 

Jennifer Smith-Topping

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_63.html

Bob then took a moment to introduce Bob Steele, a fine track athlete and Mike Griffith, a former Lansing Area Sports Writer and Radio Personality who has achieved huge success covering Southeastern Conference football!

He then invited Henry Patino to the stage to accept his induction.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_50.html

Steve Schmidt

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_25.html

Desmond Ferguson

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_15.html

Lansing Sexton 1986 and 1987 Track Teams

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_64.html

1985 Lansing Catholic Football Team

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_37.html

At this point, the ceremony ended.  Let's see who will be inducted into the hall in 2024!!

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - 1985 Lansing Catholic Central Football

                               THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

LANSING CATHOLIC CENTRAL 1985 FOOTBALL 

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

In 1985, the Lansing Catholic Central football team rolled to a 13-0 record and won the state Championship in Class C.  Many people thought that Catholic's team could have beaten the Class A Champion.

Phil Booth, the head coach gave the presentation.  He credited good, dedicated athletes and an excellent coaching staff for achieving the state title.

He was happy that the juniors and seniors worked together so well.  They were so good that a number of excellent sophomores had to play on the JV team most of the year because they were not going to beat out a junior or senior.

The team was extremely disciplined and had almost no bad practices. The players were quite resilient and would force things to go their way.  Coach Booth pointed out that the stars realized that they were stars because of whole team did its job.  The team set tough goals and fought to achieve them. 

Coach Booth cited assistant coaches Keith Schrauben, Randy Pertler and Lou Boyer for handling their assignments in a top notch fashion.  He also thanked his wife Mary Booth for accommodating him so he could devote the necessary time to his team.  Father Thomas Nenneau also earned some praise.

The team was successful because the players had great attitudes and subordinated their egos for the good of the team.

The players in attendance all introduced themselves at the end of the presentation.

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

 

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Sexton 1986 and 1987 Track Teams

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

LANSING SEXTON 1986 AND 1987 TRACK TEAMS

August 10, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

Lansing Sexton won the State Track Championship in 1986 and in 1987. 

Assistant Coach Pat Murray gave the presentation.  He cited Head Coach Paul Pozega as being a huge motivator who kept a lot of talented athletes pointed in the right direction.

The teams were extremely deep and likely to earn points in just about every event.

The relay teams 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 all won championships.  Al four relay teams finished well enough to score in 1987.

Michigan State University Athletic Director Alan Haller was one of the many excellent athletes on this team.  More than one person cited Roget Ware as being one of the finest athletes ever in the Lansing Area.

The athletes who were able to make it to the ceremony introduced themselves at the end.  

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Desmond Ferguson

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

DESMOND FERGUSON

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

I write this speech recap with great enthusiasm because I covered a number of Desmond Ferguson's events - - both in the summer Moneyball League that he created and when he coached Lansing Everett's Viking basketball team to two final four berths!  

Here are two of his biggest wins as an Everett Coach.  

The 2015 Quarterfinal where his team led by Trevor Manuel, Jamyrin Jackson and Deshae Doll (with solid contributions from everyone on the roster) was huge; the Vikings beat a team from Muskegon that featured Deyonta Davis, who played a season at Michigan State and moved on to the NBA.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2015/03/lansing-everett-vs-muskegon-boys.html

In 2016, after Trevor Manuel and Deshae Doll graduated, Jamyrin Jackson, the team led by hot-shooting Jamyrin Jackson as well as defensive demons LeAndre Wright and Nyreel Powell got back to the quarterfinals and beat Hudsonville to earn another trip to the Breslin Center.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2016/03/lansing-everett-vs-hudsonville-boys.html

It was so much fun to follow these Viking teams where everyone bought into defending fiercely and playing for the team!  Kudos to the coach!!

Coach Ferguson also played for Lansing Everett, where he was All-State as a senior.  He also played on a really successful University of Detroit team where his stellar three point shooting helped lead the Titans to two berths in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

He played professional basketball in a number of different countries and played in the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers.  

He started the popular Moneyball ProAm Basketball League which has entertained Lansing residents for well over ten years.  He runs a free basketball clinic for Lansing's young athletes.  He runs the successful Moneyball Sportswear Company as well.

Mr. Ferguson thanked the Hall of Fame Committee for his induction and proceeded to tell about his basketball journey that was supported by his mother, who encouraged all his dreams and goals.  His mom was a single parent, but he had a lot of coaches who stepped into the father role and helped guide him to be the man he is today.  He specifically mentioned Coaches Lonnie Marshal and Johnny Jones, who coached him at Everett.

He came back to his Alma Mater to coach.  Everett had been down in basketball with a 10-72 record during the previous five years.  He was able to get some talented players to buy into playing for the team and playing ferocious defense at all times.  

He thanked Diego Robinson, who was a four year varsity player when he coached the Vikings.  He also gave a shout out to his wife, Cece.

His final point was that it is important for us all to encourage young people and support them as they pursue their dreams (and to stop by Moneyball Sportwear to pick up some athletic gear!)

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Steve Schmidt

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Steve Schmidt

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Steve Schmidt is an exceptional basketball coach who has won four National Championships at Flint's Mott Community College.  

He is in the Basketball Coaches of Michigan Hall of Fame as well as the Greater Fline Area Sports Hall of Fame.

He has won four NJCAA National Coach of the Year Awards to go along with nine regional Coach of the Year awards.  He has won nine regional, ten state and fifteen conference titles.  He also has won more collegiate basketball games than any other coach at any level in Michigan.

I have been doing these blogs, so it is rare that someone I have met or written about in the past is inducted, but I ran across Mr. Schmidt and his Mott team when the played at Lansing Community College a couple years ago.

Here is a recap of the Bears' win over Lansing Community College that day!

https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2021/12/12/mott-community-college-at-lansing-community-college-mens-basketball-the-bleacher-denizen-december-11-2021-by-chuck-krafft/

Coach Schmidt thanked all his Lansing Family and his Mott Family for all the support he has gotten over the years.  The volunteer coaches who helped him through his playing days went above and beyond basketball in their support of Coach Schmidt.  Some of them even gave him money so he could attend basketball camps for the exposure needed to get a basketball scholarship.  

Lansing Community College and Waverly High, his Alma Mater, gave him opportunities to get started and he is very appreciative of that.

He said it was important to be flexible with coaching styles, but to always have integrity when you deal with players.  

Having met him, I can say that he is a positive gentleman, even to people who only have a small play by play blog in the basketball scheme of things.  It was great to see him get recognized for his achievements!!

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Henry Patino

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

HENRY PATINO

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Henry Patino was a hurdler and runner for Lansing Everett High School and Eastern Kentucky State University.  

He was the 1964 State Champion in high hurdles, low hurdles and the 880 yard relay.  He was named to the All-American team and given an outstanding athlete award.  He still holds the city record in high and low hurdles.  (It will not be broken as they now use metric distances for track events.)

Mr. Patino noted that he had actually run a race against Bob Steele, who was recently introduced.  

He then thanked the Hall of Fame for inducting him and saluted his coach for their help in developing his talent.  He particularly mentioned Dave Patterson.  

He considers running hurdles a "metaphor for life" as you will fall down, but have to keep getting back up.  

He is thankful that his athletic experience gave him the foundation to succeed in life. 

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Jennifer Smith-Topping

 THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

JENNIFER SMITH-TOPPING

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Jennifer Smith-Topping was a first team All-State basketball payer at DeWitt High School.  She went on to play at the University of Michigan, in the WNBA and in a professional Slovakian league.

She set the University of Michigan single-season scoring record in 2004 with 659 points.  She was also first team All Big Ten and won the "M" Zone leadership award as well.

She thanked her family who supported her in basketball, which she started in fifth grade.  Her father built a pole barn so she would have a regular place to play and practice.  She had a lot of tall brothers and cousins who were able to give her great competition for practices and pickup games.  This helped her develop her game.  

She thanked long-time DeWitt basketball Coach Bill McCullen and all the other coaches that supported her as she developed her skills.  They helped to shape her both as an athlete and as a person.  

She was not able to make the WNBA the first time she tried, so she went to the Euro League to build her skills and was able to play in the WNBA for the New York Liberty.

She took a break from basketball to find a purpose and discovered that coaching was fulfilling.  She has really enjoyed coaching her son.  

Jennifer said she learned the most from the "daily grind" necessary to build her skills so she could compete at the top levels.

Her advice to young people is to surround yourself with positive people who are able to give encouragement.  She hopes her players will remember her for a positive impact on their games and lives.

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Christina Cleland-Hursey

 THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

CHRISTINA CLELAND-HURSEY

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Christina Cleland-Hursey played four sports, basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball and was pretty good at all of them.  She was an all-area player in soccer as well being an all-league player in basketball and volleyball and earned eleven varsity letters in high school.

At Albion College, she received twelve varsity letters in basketball, soccer and volleyball and was named to the first All-MIAA Conference team six different times.  She was Conference MVP in Soccer and All-Conference in basketball and softball as well.  She was the first MIAA female athlete to receive all conference recognition in three different sports.

Christina thanked her family for giving her the background and encouragement to try all the different sports.  She came from a family that coached a lot of different teams and helped her develop skills at a time when not many women participated in athletics.

She loves all three sports and can't pick a favorite.

She remembers her coaches and teammates all having an impact on the person she became.  She had a long career teaching and coaching at Mason High School and thanked long-time athletic director Greg Lattig for giving her the coaching opportunity.

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Bryan Smith

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

BRYAN SMITH

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Bryan Smith was a long-time softball umpire.  He called a lot of prestigious championship games for high school, college and in national adult softball tournaments.  He has been a registered high school umpire since 1976 and a college umpire since 1982.  He has had some very important positions in USA softball as well.  

He thanked the Hall of Fame for his induction.  

He thanked his family and the people around him as a child for giving him lots of chances to play sports and develop an interest early.  He also mentioned the help that he received from experienced umpires and players along the way as he learned his craft.

He pointed out that he was assisted by the "Visiting Team", the "Home Team" and the "Umpire Team".  The umpire team provided mentorship and training as an umpire.  The home team was his family.  The visiting team was the sponsors and league officials that he worked with.

He is excited about how the game has grown, especially in TV coverage and is proud that he got a chance to participate.  

He informed us that we need to make sure we are recruiting and training umpires for the future.  

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html

2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Melanie Miller

 

Melanie Miller - - 2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

MELANIE MILLER

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

Melanie Miller was a long-time athletic administrator.  She served as both an assistant athletic director and as the athletic director at Lansing Sexton for nearly 30 years.

She served on many committees and received a number of awards for the quality of her work as an athletic director.

She started her remarks by thanking the selection committee for her induction into the hall.  She also thanked all the people at Sexton, especially the 1986 and 1987 track teams which won state championships and are also being inducted into the hall tonight.  She mentioned the other administrators at Sexton as well as the Michigan High School Athletic Association.  

She was a pioneer in getting girls athletics started and making sure that the girls had adequate facilities.  She pointed out that she was privileged to be part of a great team that helped to make sure that everything happened as smoothly as possible.  

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

2000 Lansing Community College Softball - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame - - July 28, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2000 SOFTBALL TEAM

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

The Lansing Community College Softball Team had a 44-10 record, but that is only the beginning of a big story!!

Bob Every asked all the players to introduce themselves and tell us their position and high school.  Then, as Bob was this team’s coach, he made the acceptance speech as well.  His daughter, Jody was on the team as well.

Bob Every coached softball at Lansing Community College for a while; this was his first team.  LCC added baseball and softball to its athletic program that year.  Bob found out he would be coaching.

All the players on the team were local players from the Lansing Area.  The players worked very hard to become a good team.  Early in the year, they went to Florida for the first part of their season.  They realized their team had some potential when they beat the national championship team from the previous year. 

While they had six early losses in Florida, they also had this win over the previous champion to draw on for confidence.  While the team lost ten games that season, six of them were in the early games in Florida while they were coming together as a team.  After they got back from Florida, they only lost four more games the entire season. 

In their first year of existence as a program, they were invited to the national tournament.  While they were not the champion, this whole season was an incredible accomplishment for a brand new team with all local players. 

Bob Every talked of the special camaraderie between the players that created the bonds that helped the team to its special season.  Bob credited them for having the ability to show him how to coach and how to relate. 

Bob Every also gave Assistant Coach Gordy Hetrick a special shoutout and praised his softball knowledge and coaching ability. 

The award plaque was presented to current LCC Athletic director, Greg Lattig.

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Roger Callard - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - July 30, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

ROGER CALLARD

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Roger Callard was a body building champion who was a good high school athlete as well.  His accomplishments as a body builder include:

Saginaw County Team of the Century

Mr. Michigan

Mr. Western America

Mr. U.S.A.

Mr. America

Mr. International

He was also a fast runner who was a Conference Mile Relay Champions. 

He has acted in over 40 TV shows and movies and is an R & B Recording Artist. 

He also helped train people in the U.S. Airforce and has invented and created workout machines.  He has also written eight screen plays and was a contributing editor for Muscle Builder and Power Magazine. 

I have been blogging the Hall of Fame induction ceremony since 2015 and my opinion is that Roger Callard gave the best induction acceptance speech I have ever heard! 

He started out by thanking Bob Every and the Selection Committee for his induction. 

He told of his dreams as a young boy of being the fastest runner in the world and being a top athlete.  He would imagine himself performing in championship moments.  His older brother introduced him to weight lifting when he was twelve.  His strong physique, combined with excellent running speed earned him a varsity letter as a freshman in high school.  He told of hearing Duffy Daugherty, the former Michigan State football coach giving an exemplary motivational speech while he was in high school.

He went on to help his Chesaning High School Football team win a championship and played for the Michigan State football team.

He told of losing his father at age 16 and how George Perles, an assistant coach at MSU at that time became his surrogate father.  He praised George Perles for the way he genuinely cared about his players. 

He noted that he did some acting in high school.  In fact, his football coach was also his drama coach.  He reluctantly joined the cast for his first play and found out he love acting.  He relayed his experiences meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kurt Russell early in his acting career. 

He relayed the pain of going through his wife’s struggle with cancer for a few years.  There were ups and downs until she finally succumbed to the disease in 2013. 

He again praised George Perles for giving him faith in himself.  He related that there were three attributes that are necessary to success in any sport.  These are Effort, Love and Gratitude. 

He related a story about an important lesson her learned from his father.  It involved making a list of your best allies and worst enemies.  He pointed out that it is important to respect the people who open doors and pointed out that dealing with competitors and enemies can contribute a lot to a person’s growth.

Kudos again to Mr. Callard for an amazing, motivational speech!!

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

 

 

Roland Carter - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - July 28, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

ROLAND CARTER

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Roland Carter was a fine pole vaulter from Carson City High School.  He was the first pole vaulter in Michigan to top sixteen feet, seventeen feet and eighteen feet.  In 1964, he won the Michigan High School Pole Vaulting Championship. 

He went on to compete for Michigan State University.  He was a Big Ten indoor and outdoor Pole Vaulting Champion and held the NCAA record for a while.  He was an All-American.  His 16’ 4” vault was a Michigan State record for 30 years.

He was the U.S. Interservice Champion when he was in the army.  He also won many AAU and U.S. Invitational Events.  He was the AAU National Indoor Champion in 1975 and 1976 as well. Roland Carter also was a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Team trials in 1972 and 1976.

He was the fifth pole vaulter in history to complete an 18 foot vault.  They showed a video of this achievement right before Mr. Carter spoke. 

He pointed out that this was the second induction he had gone through in his life.  The first one was into the army.  He joked that he likes this induction ceremony much better!

He thanked many supporters who helped him achieve his accomplishments.  He also thanked Bob Every, the Hall of Fame Chairman, for all he does to help make the Hall the fine institution we all appreciate.  He noted how many coaches are being honored this year and pointed out all they do to help athletes to be the best they can be.

He joked about how his wife pretended to be a pole vault fan to be closer to him.  He has been married to Sandy for 49 years. 

He also mentioned the “White Moment” which is the moment your mind clears right before you perform a feat. 

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

 

 

Dan Olsen - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - July 28, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

DAN OLSEN

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Dan Olsen was one of the finest golfers to ever come from the Lansing Area.  He had a fine career at East Lansing High School and the University of Indiana.  He went on to be a professional golfer.

He was an individual and state champion at East Lansing high school and achieved All-State recognition in 1984 and 1985.

At the University of Indiana, he was the Indiana Amateur Winner in three different years and had the lowest stroke average on the University’s Golf Team in two different years.

He was on the PGA and National Golf Tours as well.

Mr. Olsen said he was proud to be at the induction ceremony.  He was the product of parents who lived across the street from a golf course.  While he started his athletic journey as a basketball player, he eventually started in golf to give him a fall sport.

Because East Lansing had a rare opportunity for a freshman to be on the varsity golf team, he spent four years on the varsity.  He thanked his coach as well as his family and other families who golf for their help in making his golf career a success.

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

Lansing Everett 2000 and 2001 Girls Basketball - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - July 28, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

2000 and 2001 Lansing Everett Girls Basketball

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Lansing Everett was a huge factor in Michigan Girls’ Basketball from 1998 to 2001.  In those four seasons (starting in December 2997, the team complied a 103-4 record.  Everett spent the first of those four seasons getting the attention of the basketball community.  I believe the only game the team lost was in the state tournament.

In 1999, the only game that the Everett Vikings lost was in the State final.  In 2000, they were undefeated state champions.  In 2001, the had a one point and a two-point loss during the season, but won the state title with a 53-43 win over Saginaw Heritage. 

After the players from the teams introduced themselves, Darrell Scott, one of the assistant coaches made the acceptance speech as Coach Johnny Jones was not able to come.

Darrell Scott stressed the importance of understanding the journey that helped to form the players into this championship unit.  He had to learn how to communicate with them, so it was a growth experience for him as well. 

He noted that they practiced like a track team during the summer to develop the endurance necessary to play tough basketball on offense and defense without letdowns.  He also thanked the players and Coach Jones.  Coach Jones established an atmosphere that allowed all the coaches and players to grow and play their best!

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Rachel Turney Justice - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - July 28, 2022 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

RACHEL TURNEY JUSTICE

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Rachel Turney Justice was an All-State Softball Pitcher and an All-Conference basketball player on Lansing Everett’s 2001 and 2002 State Championship Girls basketball teams!

In softball, she was an All-Conference, All-District, All-Region and All-State pitcher.  She was also an All-American at Lansing Community College and went on to pitch for Michigan State.  She was the MVP of at least two tournaments and pitched a no-hitter in 2007.  She was also Academic All-Big Ten for two seasons.

She thanked the community for supporting her and felt that the resilience and other lessons from playing sports helped her in every part of her life.

She also pointed out the power of positivity and pointed out how one small act of kindness or a kind word can really powerfully impact the life of another person!

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

Josephine Mask - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - J

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

JOSEPHINE MASK

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Josephine Mask was a track and field star for Sexton High in the 1970s.  We was the State Champion in the shot-put and the discus in 1978.  She still holds the Sexton record for the discus with a throw of 133 feet and 11 inches.

She also played Varsity Volleyball for three years and is a member of the J.W. Sexton High School Hall of Fame.

Ms. Mask told us that she was proud of Lansing as well as the people who recognized her talent and encouraged her to compete in sports.  As she had a difficult childhood at times, this helped launch her on a path to a productive life.  The confidence she gained from doing well at sports carried over to other parts of her life.

She thanked God for his direction in her life as well and also thanked the Selection Committee for her induction.

She has opened a foundation for children from foster homes. 

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

Rupert (Rocky) Shaft - - 2022 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

RUPERT (ROCKY) SHAFT

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Rocky Shaft was the Holt High School wrestling coach for 47 years.  He compiled a 624-108 record. 

His teams won 25 league titles, 35 district championships, 15 regional titles and three state titles!

He was twice nominated for National Coach of the Year and is a member of both the Michigan and National Wrestling Halls of Fame!

Mr. Shaft is deceased, so his widow, Liz Shaft and his former assistant coach, Stan Granger, (who is now Holt’s varsity wrestling coach) accepted the Induction Plaque.  Stan Granger made the acceptance speech as well; he had also been coached by Rocky Shaft when he was in high school. 

Stan Granger pointed out that Coach Shaft had a gruff exterior, but a really warm heart.  He never yelled at his wrestlers.  He always was positive and encouraging, even to the students who were not top wrestlers.  He always tried to find ways to make sure that everyone got chances to wrestle.  He never cut anyone from the wrestling team.  (At a school as large as Holt, that means a lot!)

What Stan remembered most about Coach Shaft was his humility and his phenomenal memory for sports facts and detailed accounts of wrestling meets from years past. 

Stan Granger showed some emotion during his speech.  His favorite quote from Coach Shaft was, “The fun is in the memories.”  This sums up both Stan’s respect for his former coach as well as Coach Shaft’s humility, spirit and all he brought to several generations of wrestlers!

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

 

 

2022 Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Jim Brandt

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

JIM BRANDT

July 28, 2022

By Chuck Krafft

 

Jim Brandt coached Track at Grand Ledge for 28 years; he also coached Cross Country for 19 years and Basketball for 10 years.  He had a big hand in founding the Lansing Invitational Cross Country Meet in 1989.

In cross country, he had 66 consecutive dual meet wins and won 11 CAC Championships in 12 years.  He also won 3 Regional Championships and coached 6 All-State Runners.  He was the Lansing State Journal Coach of the Year in 1994.

In track, he won one CAC Championship, two West Central Championships and ten Eaton County Championships.  In 2005, he was entered into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

His first comment was a story about a Magic Johnson dunk against one of his basketball teams that was so impressive that his Grand Ledge bench gave its props!  He noted that Magic Johnson went on to coach in the NBA while he went on to coaching track!  (Like most inductees, Mr. Brandt was quite humble!)

He thanked his athletes for their hard work and dedication.  He also thanked the coaches that helped his teams to achieve on a level that earned this recognition.

He showed a great sense of humor throughout his talk as he ended by telling us that he was happy to see his grandchildren at the event.  He noted that if he had known about grandkids, he would have skipped the “kids” part of the process!

For those who wish to read about the entire event, here is a link to the Overview page!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html