By Ken Hansard
Senior pitcher Gracelyn Collins is preparing for her final season with the Lansing Lions, bringing experience, leadership, and a competitive mindset to the circle for Lansing High School in the United Kansas Conference (UKC) 5A.
Collins, a right-handed pitcher, enters her senior season after an impressive junior campaign in which she posted a10–4 record with 108 strikeouts and 29 walks across 90 innings. During the season, she also surpassed a major milestone, eclipsing 200 career strikeoutsand finishing the year with224 strikeouts for her high school career. However, she has her sights set squarely on the season in front of her, “I look forward to being a Lansing Lion for one last season, competing as a team, and having fun while doing it. As a senior, I’m excited to step into a leadership role and to be someone the underclassmen can look up to, both on and off the field.”
Lansing finished 16–12 last season, placing fourth in the UKC before falling in the second game of the 5A regional tournament to Saint Thomas Aquinas. Collins hopes to help push the Lions even further this year. “My goal every time I step in the circle is to give my team a chance to win,” Collins said. “I want to limit runs, limit my walks, and get ahead early in the count.”
Gracelyn’s dedication to improvement continues year-round. “As a pitcher I always have things to work on,” she said. “I’m constantly working on my mechanics, velocity, spin, command, and my approach.”
Collins has earned numerous honors during her career, including UKC All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman, Sports in Kansas All-State Honorable Mention as both a sophomore and junior, and UKC All-Conference Second Team honors in both 2024 and 2025. She has also maintainedthe “A” Honor Roll status since kindergarten and boasts an impressive 3.96 GPA.
Collins’ softball journey began when her father introduced her to the sport at age eight. “I love to compete and I thank God for my athletic ability and the opportunities he has given me,” she said.
After graduation, Collins will continue her career at Presbyterian College, where she has signed a Division I scholarshipand plans to studypsychology or business while competing in the Big South Conference.
