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Video: Meet the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame’s 2025 inductees
See the eight individuals and two teams set to be inducted in Aug. 7, 2025 at the Lansing Center.
One of Jack Anderson’s goals when he became the Portland softball coach in 1981 was to build a program that was not only competitive with the top teams in Greater Lansing but also with the best in Michigan.
It was a process, but it started with trying to beat some of the top teams in the area and then extended to the state level.
Portland eventually reached that goal, leading to nearly 1,000 wins during Anderson’s four decades leading the Raiders. That success is why Anderson is a member of this year’s class being inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 7.
“It certainly is an honor to be in a group of people that have been honored prior to this year’s class as well as this year’s class,” Anderson said.
“It’s very humbling to be selected with that group.”
Anderson was a fixture in the Portland community, also spending eight seasons as the varsity football coach. But it was success on the diamond that helped him earn recognition as Portland emerged into a statewide powerhouse under his leadership.
“I can’t put one thing on it that I would say was the turning point,” Anderson said. “I think we tried to develop a system where the kids held each other accountable and they held themselves accountable. The other part — and that was the biggest part — was all of the sudden they could get to the point that they could beat anybody. I think as our schedule increased early to some of the top teams in the state, it took a while.
“Then the kids felt like no matter what they could beat any team at any time. I think it was just a lot of the scheduling and continually increasing the level of difficulty in the regular season.”
The success for Portland was highlighted by state semifinal runs in 2007 and 2008. Anderson led the Raiders to a 42-4 mark during their Division 3 tournament run in 2007 and a 36-9 record in 2008 when they made the semis in Division 2.
Portland also reached the state quarterfinals in 2015 under Anderson, who was inducted into the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
Anderson ended his coaching career with 977 victories, which ranked 10th in state history at the time of his retirement in June 2019. Anderson remains the winningest high school softball coach ever in Greater Lansing. He credits those around him for the roles they played in Portland’s success during his career.
“Obviously (the 977 wins is) one of those things that you say I’m proud of that,” Anderson said. “I also know those wins wouldn’t have come along without the assistant coaches that I had. Kelly Grys was with me for a long, long time and Brandee Novara and Patti Fish and Sarah Townsend. All of those were players that played for me and then came up.
“We had a staff that was there for a lot of years and everyone was on the same page when we were doing it. I had a lot of very, very good dedicated athletes so that makes winning a whole lot easier, I can tell you that.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway.
49th Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame
When: Aug. 7; 4:30 — Welcome; 5:30 — Dinner; 6:30 — Induction ceremony
Where: Lansing Center
Tickets: $40 per person, call (517) 484-0677 or email everyb21@gmail.com for information.
2025 inductees: Lauren Aitch, Jack Anderson, Casey Cunningham, Steve Maidlow, Phil Magsig, Casey Rost, Beth Swears, Carlton Valentine, 1981 Okemos girls basketball, 1999 Williamston wrestling
Sponsors: Magic Johnson Enterprises, Dean Transportation, Shaheen Chevrolet and Cadillac, ASAP Printing, Roland Carter Enterprise, The Bleacher Denizen, One North Kitchen & Bar, Applegate Home Comfort, AF Group, Dan Henry Distributing, Edward Jones Investments, Gregory Eaton Associates
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