Lansing High School senior pitcher Gracelyn Collins is gaining recognition as she prepares for her final season with the Lansing Lions softball team. Collins was recently highlighted in a VYPE Sports Athlete Spotlight, presented by Preferred Physical Therapy Lansing, recognizing her accomplishments and leadership heading into the 2026 season.
Collins, a right-handed pitcher, enters her senior year after an impressive junior campaign. Last season she posted a 10–4 record with 108 strikeouts and just 29 walks across 90 innings. During the year, she also reached a major career milestone by surpassing 200 career strikeouts, finishing the season with 224 strikeouts for her high school career.
As she looks ahead to her final season, Collins is focused on both performance and leadership.
“I look forward to being a Lansing Lion for one last season, competing as a team, and having fun while doing it,” Collins said in the VYPE Sports article. “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.”
The Lansing Lions finished 16–12 last season, placing fourth in the United Kansas Conference before falling in the second game of the 5A regional tournament. Collins hopes to help lead the team to an even stronger finish this spring.
“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.”
Collins’ commitment to improving her craft continues year-round. She regularly works on refining her mechanics, velocity, spin, and command as she prepares for competition.
Her dedication has earned her multiple honors during her high school 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 recognition in 2024 and 2025.
In the classroom, Collins has also excelled. She has maintained “A” Honor Roll status and currently holds an impressive 3.96 GPA.
After graduation, Collins will continue her softball career at Presbyterian College, where she has signed to compete at the NCAA Division I level. She plans to study psychology or business while playing in the Big South Conference.
The Lansing School District congratulates Gracelyn on this recognition and looks forward to cheering on the Lions during her final season.
Portions of this story were adapted from a VYPE Sports Athlete Spotlight by Ken Hansard.
Photo courtesy of VYPE Sports.