Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame: Christie Hursey made history as multi-sport college athlete
Specialization has become a common trend for youth athletes.
But that definitely wasn't for Christie Hursey during her days at East Lansing High School and then Albion College.
Hursey enjoyed the variety of being a multi-sport athlete. She also thrived in whatever she did.
That multi-sport success is why Hursey is part of this year's Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame class, which will be formally inducted during a ceremony Aug. 10 at the Lansing Center.
Hursey shined playing soccer, basketball and volleyball at East Lansing and then continued having success in soccer and basketball at Albion College while also playing softball.
In her final season at Albion in 1996, Hursey became the first female athlete in MIAA history to earn first team all-conference honors in three sports in the same school year.
"I attribute a lot of success to hard work, great teammates, great coaches and just a love of the game and wanting to work hard to be successful in those sports," said Hursey, who is also a member of the East Lansing and Albion halls of fame. "I didn't necessarily take any days off from sports. I just loved it so much. I had a passion for it and a desire to be good at it so I continued to do that day in and day out."
Hursey was the captain of seven teams at East Lansing and earned four varsity letters in soccer and basketball and three in volleyball. She earned all-state honors in all three sports. In basketball, Hursey set records for assists in a game, season and career.
Albion College was the next stop for Hursey because of the opportunity it provided to play both soccer and basketball — her two primary sports. She decided to add softball after being urged by a coach to give the sport a shot.
Hursey played rec softball for a few years during her childhood before returning to the sport in college.
"To pick up softball was unique and fun and it was a different experience," Hursey said.
As in soccer and basketball, Hursey put in the time and eventually became a first team All-MIAA player on the diamond as a senior. That was part of a senior season in which she was named the MIAA MVP in soccer and a first team all-conference player in basketball. That allowed her to be the first female athlete in the 108-year history of the MIAA to achieve first team honors in three sports.
"I just really dedicated a lot of my time to not only the people in the sports but my actual playing in the sports and keeping up on skills," Hursey said. "I think the No. 1 thing that I feel most accomplished is that my senior year I was first team all-league in all three sports. That took me by big surprise.
"That had never happened before so that was one of my greatest accomplishments. I felt really blessed that I could participate in those sports and continue to excel."
47th Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame
When: Aug. 10; 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
2023 inductees: Christie Hursey, Desmond Ferguson, Melanie Miller, Henry Patino, Steve Schmidt, Bryan Smith, Jennifer Smith, 1985 Lansing Catholic Central football team, 1986 and 1987 Sexton boys track teams.
Sponsors: Dean Transportation, Applegate Home Comfort, Dan Henry Distributing, Shaheen Chevrolet/Cadillac, The Accident Fund, Gregory Eaton Associates, Edward Jones Inc., One North Restaurant, Auto Owners Insurance, The Bleacher Denizen, Roland Carter Enterprise, ASAP Printing, Magic Johnson Enterprises
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Hall of Fame inductee Christie Hursey thrived as multi-sport athlete
