Potterville Volleyball - - 1987 to 1990 - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Potterville Volleyball 1988 to 1990

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

From 1988 to 1990, Potterville Volleyball enjoyed a great run that resulted in State Championships in 1988 and 1990 as well as a runner-up finish in 1989.  Gina Harrington, who was also inducted individually this year was one of the stars of the three teams. 

Coach Sheryl Mox thanked the athletes for their dedication and hard work that led to the success.  Shannon Moore spoke for the teams and introduced her teammates.  Ms. Moore was worried about her speech, but she did a fine job!

She was recruited to play for the volleyball team as a freshman and resisted at first, but Assistant Coach Chuck Schram was eventually able to get her to try the sport.  After a tough freshman year, she was part of the 1988 team as a sophomore and was on all three championship teams.

She pointed out how well-coached and organized the teams were.  Each player had a job; even those who cheered the regular players from the bench was important.  They were not a tall team, but no team had more hustle and heart!  They were disciplined and worked hard as a team. 

She joked about eating cheese popcorn with a spoon to keep their fingers clean.  She says that Coaches Mox and Schram are still remembered and respected in Potterville for their success with the team.

She ended her presentation by saying “Every day, someone does something big.  Today is your turn!”

Coach Mox then took the mike and thanked Tom Truscott, the Potterville Athletic Director at the time for scheduling support and leadership that helped make sure they had competitive schedules and facilities for practice.  She gave a special mention to Tammy Karl, who had played a lot of travel basketball and starred as a senior for the first championship team.  Because of Tammy Karl, a lot of Potterville girls because enthused about volleyball.

Coach Mox thanked all the people for supporting and contributing to the Lansing Athletic community.

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Melissa Kegler - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Melissa Kegler

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

This was one of three inductions for people who compete in sports other than the standard sports played by most high schools.

Melissa Kegler, an Open Water Marathon Swimmer, was a successful swimmer in high school.  She swam for Holt High School and made the Lansing All-Area Swim Team.  She also earned two varsity letters at Alma College.

As an adult, she started Open Water Marathon swimming.  Open Marathon Swimming is long distance swimming outdoors that is generally at least twenty miles.  Melissa Kegler has completed the triple crown of Open Water Swimming.  She was the 175^th person in the world and the first from Michigan to complete this trio.

The swims include 20.1 crossing the channel from Catalina Island to the California shore, 28.5 miles to do the Twenty Bridges, with is a circumnavigation of Manhattan Island as well as 41.9 miles to cross the English Channel. 

Jeff Kegler, who is on the Hall’s Selection Committee and does a lot of other work to help keep the hall running, introduced his daughter.  He took a minute to thank Bob Every for all he does for the Hall of Fame, for Michigan State Club Softball and for the work keeping Ranney Park a beautiful place for softball.

Melissa Kegler told us that she started swimming in lakes and swam in high school.  She discovered Open Water Swimming and discovered that she loved the sport.  A half mile Florida swim was her first Open Water Event. 

She said that now that she coaches she appreciates what her coaches have done for her.  She was excited to hear people at the ceremony talk of their experiences coaching other sports, which will made her a better Open Water Swimming coach. 

She told us it takes a lot of mental toughness to maintain focus and to continue going forward.  Because of tides, weather and other situations, it is not possible to plan for everything that might happen during the swim.  Generally they start swimming at night; there is a constant battle to maintain focus and continue swimming.  She has to deal with jellyfish and other wild water animals as she swims.

She loves the sport as she swims with people from all over the world who are into Open Water Swimming.  She was excited at her induction because it gave her an opportunity to help promote the sport.  For her, it was not just a plaque, but a platform!

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html

Judy Tant - - Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony - - Lansing Civic Events - - July 25, 2019 - - by Chuck Krafft

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Judy Tant

July 25, 2019

By Chuck Krafft

This was one of three inductions for people who compete in sports other than the standard sports played by most high schools.

Judy Tant was inducted into the Hall of Fame because of her success as a Precision Pistol Shooter.  She was the Woman National Pistol Champion eight times and was the High Woman in National Trophy Matches ten times.  In addition, she won the National Indoor Precision Pistol Championship four times. 

She also won numerous other national and state awards in Precision shooting.

She started shooting as a young adult, but dropped the sport for about twenty years because she moved here from Canada and needed to become a U.S. Citizen before she could purchase the guns she needed for competition.  At age 47, she started back with the sport.

Precision shooting involves shooting 270 shots from three different types of guns at a target.  Ms. Tant explained the challenges and procedures involved with Precision shooting.  For a long time, she competed against men, but now as more women are taking up the sport, there are women’s competitions.

She introduced a number of her fellow shooters, who came to support her.  She likes to wear a T-Shirt that says “Shoots like a girl.”  She is proud of changing the meaning of that word. 

She was very thorough in explaining the sport and was a great ambassador about the sport of Precision Pistol Shooting!

For those who wish to read about the entire induction ceremony, here is a link.

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall.html