In conjunction with the United States celebrating its 250th birthday this year, USA Today Co. newspapers in Michigan have been looking at some of the top athletes to come out of each region in the state.
Over the next several weeks, the Lansing State Journal will unveil some of the top athletes from Greater Lansing. We will take a daily look at one of the top 10 male or female athletes from the region. These athletes are determined by more than just high school performance. Accomplishments in college and as a professional were also taken into consideration when determining the area’s best.
The athletes are not ranked in order. Here is a look at our first female athlete.
Jessica (Beech) Bograkos
Whether it was at Okemos or Michigan State University, Bograkos made a significant mark on the diamond. The 2004 Spartan graduate is part of the Michigan State Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the most decorated softball players in school history.
Bograkos ranks as MSU’s all-time career leader in wins (72), shutouts (24), strikeouts (659) and no-hitters (four). She also led Okemos to a state title and was Michigan’s Miss Softball winner in that 2000 season, finishing her high school career with 57 straight victories. Bograkos was also an all-state basketball and volleyball player at Okemos.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Celebrating Greater Lansing’s best: Jessica Beech Bograkos starred at Okemos, MSU
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
