2026 MSHOF BALLOT

2026 Public Ballot

Voting Instructions 

The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1954 to honor the athletes, coaches, contributors, and personalities who have made a great impact on the State of Michigan’s sports history and success. The Hall of Fame’s annual Election Ballot is comprised of candidates nominated by the public and separated into five (5) categories: Amateur, Professional, Coach, Media, Contributor. 

Voting is conducted in the same manner for all five Ballot categories:

  • Each voter may vote once per annual Hall of Fame Ballot
  • Each voter shall score every candidate on the Ballot on a point scale (1 – 10) based on the strength of the candidate’s Hall of Fame worthiness, with 10 points being the highest vote, and 1 point the lowest vote.
  • Each candidate should be judged individually. There is no limit to the number of high or low scores a voter may use.
  • The lowest vote a candidate can receive is one (1) point; failure to vote on a particular candidate will be scored as a “non-vote” with that particular ballot not counting toward that candidate’s overall score.

Voting closes on Friday, June 12

AMATEUR

Born in Trenton, Avery graduated from Kennedy High School in Taylor and was drafted third overall as an 18-year-old in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves. Made his major league debut in 1990 and would spend seven successful seasons with the Braves before moving on to three additional teams ending with the Detroit Tigers in 2003. Avery would compile a 96 – 83 record with a 4.19 ERA and 980 strikeouts during his 11-year career. He was the National League Championship Series MVP in 1991, a 1993 All-Star, and 1995 World Series Champion.
Grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula attending West Iron County High School where he was a silver medalist hurdler and played football at Northern Michigan University. Qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics and won the gold and silver medals in the 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games. Competed in the 2014 and the 2018 Winter Olympics achieving fourth place in the snowboard cross. Won his first Olympic gold at the age of 40 in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.
Initially recruited to Michigan State for her prowess in volleyball and basketball, Brown embraced track & field, becoming a 12-time Big Ten champion, three-time All-American, and an NCAA champion. As a freshman, she led the Spartans to a Big Ten Indoor Championship in the 4×220-yard relay before clinching the 440-meter hurdle league title. As a senior, she earned Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year honors and dominated the 1983 Big Ten Championships, winning five of her 12 career conference titles. She won the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympic Games.
Born in Lansing, Haynie finished her basketball career at Michigan State ranking as the career leader in assists and steals, and eighth in scoring. At the time of her graduation, she was just the fourth player in Big Ten history to reach career totals of 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 steals. In 2005, she guided the Spartans to a 33-win season, the Big Ten Championship, the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance, and berth in the NCAA Championship Game. Haynie was selected 9th in the 2005 WNBA Draft and helped the Sacramento Monarchs capture the WNBA title in her first season as a pro.
After playing high school football at Grand Blanc (MI) Community High School and Flint Southwestern Academy, Ingram II was named Saginaw Valley MVP, Area Player of the Year, and earned all-state honors as a senior. Also received nine All-State selections as a track and field athlete. Played college football at Alabama where in 2009, he led the team to the BCS National Championship and became the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner. Selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 28th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, had an 11-year pro football career that included three Pro-Bowl Selections.
Born in Warren, Komisarz-Baugh began her swimming career as a senior at Warren Mott High School before becoming a record-breaking swimmer at the University of Kentucky, where she was a Southeastern Conference (SEC) champion and earned All-American honors from 1996 through 1999. Represented the United States at 2004 Olympics winning the gold medal in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay and silver medal in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay. Overall, won 23 medals in her career while representing the U.S. in international competition.
Born in Detroit, Paraskevin-Young competed in two Olympic sports: speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics and cycling in the Summer Olympics from 1988 to 1996. In the 1988 games, she won the bronze medal in sprint cycling. She won four World Championships and a total of eight World Championship medals in the event. She was also the U.S. champion in the cycling sprint 10 times, set a world record for the 200-meter in 1995, and won gold medals at the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1990 Goodwill Games.
Goaltender at the University of Michigan from 1994-98. Led the Wolverines to the NCAA Championship in 1996, was awarded two First-Team All-CCHA selections and the CCHA Player of the Year in 1998. Turco set career records for both wins and shutouts at Michigan, and as a senior had a remarkable .927 save percentage that earned him a spot on the NCAA tournament All-Tournament Team. He would go on to achieve a successful professional career, playing in the NHL for over a decade.
A two-time Michigan state champion in the 500-yard freestyle (2001, 2002) at Rochester Adams High School and the 2001 state champion in the 200-yard freestyle. Vanderkaay competed for the Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving team and holds a total of six NCAA, and 14 Big Ten Conference titles. He is a four-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in the 4 x 200-meter relay (2004, 2008) and bronze (200-meter freestyle 2008, and 400-meter freestyle in 2012).
Born in St. Clair Shores, Wells graduated from Lake Shore High School before attending Bowling Green State University where he was a star forward on the hockey team. Selected to play on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey team that went on to win the gold medal at Lake Placid, Wells was selected 176th overall in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. In 2014, St. Clair Shores city officials renamed the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena’s Olympia Room as the Mark Wells Ice Rink. Died on May 14, 2024, at the age of 66.

PROFESSIONAL

After an outstanding high school and college athletic career that included two National Championships at the University of Connecticut, Cash was selected by the Detroit Shock with the 2nd overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft. In her second season, Cash helped lead the Shock to the 2003 WNBA championship and was named All-WNBA Second Team. Three years later, Cash added a second title in Detroit. Cash helped lead the United States to gold medals in both the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics and played 15 total seasons in the WNBA, earning four All-Star selections and two All-Star MVP performances.
Fidrych became a national sensation in 1976, when he led Major League Baseball with a 2.34 ERA and earned a 19–9 record. His performance, combined with his joyful, unfiltered enthusiasm, made him a cultural phenomenon. That same year, he earned the American League Rookie of the Year Award and appeared in the first of his two All-Star Games. Died on April 13, 2009, at the age of 54.
A native of Flint, Gant’s career as a powerlifter included setting a world record in 1984 and then, the next year, becoming the first athlete in history to deadlift five times his own body weight. He competed throughout his career despite idiopathic scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Gant was inducted into the International Powerlifting Hall of Fame in 1980.
All-American offensive lineman at the University of Maryland, selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1985 NFL draft. Played 15 NFL seasons, 13 with Detroit. Four time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl center instrumental in Detroit’s rushing attack alongside Barry Sanders. Named to the Lions’ 75th Season All-Time team in 2008 and the All-Time Team in 2019.
Born in Detroit and had a standout football career at MacKenzie High School, earning a spot on the State of Michigan high school all-decade team for the 1980s. Played linebacker at Ohio State and earned All-American honors as a senior in 1985. From 1986-1992, won two Super Bowls as a key member of the vaunted Giants defense and earned first team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl accolades. Later played for his hometown Detroit Lions in 1996.
A native of Mount Clemens, Kalitta is known as “The Bounty Hunter” for his career in drag racing. The first driver of a top fuel dragster to reach 200 miles per hour in 1964, he raced from the 1950s through the 1990s. In 1989, he was the first to reach 290 miles per hour. He was inducted in the Motorsports of America Hall of Fame in 1992.
Born in Detroit, Roe played baseball at Eastern Michigan University where he helped the team win the 1970 NAIA Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Roe graduated from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in 1977 and become a professional baseball umpire, spending 21 years as an American League umpire in Major League Baseball before retiring in 2002. Roe umpired in the 1990 and 1999 World Series and the 1984 and 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star games.
Born in Flint, Thomas graduated from Davison High School and played hockey for four seasons at the University of Vermont where he led the team to the 1996 NCAA Frozen Four, a program first. Thomas was selected by Quebec in the 1994 Entry Draft and became a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender, as well as a two-time NHL All-Star. He holds the NHL record for most saves in a play-off run and in a Stanley Cup Final, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Born in Ann Arbor, Toney did not pursue a boxing career until after graduating high school. Following a brief amateur career, going 33 – 2 (32 KO’s), he began his professional career in 1988 that continued for 29 years, ending in 2017. His overall professional record was 77 – 10 with three draws and two no contests, earning the nickname “Lights Out” by his trainer Gregory Owens. He is one of only eight fighters to have won titles in five different weight classes, from middleweight to heavyweight. In 1991 and 2003, Toney was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
A goaltender who played 19 years in the National Hockey League, Vernon won the 1997 Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings, when he also was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A winner of more than 300 NHL games, Vernon also shared the 1996 Jennings trophy with teammate Chris Osgood. Vernon also won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames.

COACH

Born in Corunna, Annese played college football at Alma College before beginning his coaching career. After several assistant and head coaching roles, he eventually took over at Muskegon High School, where he captured three Division 2 state championships. Hired as the head coach of Ferris State University, Annese has led the Bulldogs to seven conference championships, 11 playoff appearances and four Division II National Championships (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) while compiling a record of 153 – 21. In 2024, he was honored as the first-ever recipient of the Walter Camp Division II Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Bryce was the Wayne State University softball coach for 40 years, concluding his career as the NCAA Division II all-time winning softball coach. His career win total ranks in the top 10 of all three divisions combined and in 2018 he became the fourth NCAA softball coach to reach 2,000 games coached. During his tenure, Bryce mentored 41 All-Americans, 12 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, seven GLIAC Freshmen of the Year selections, five GLIAC Pitchers of the Year and eight GLIAC Players of the Year. His teams won 21 GLIAC championships and three squads advanced to the College World Series.
Spent 35 seasons as the head coach of the University of Michigan women’s gymnastics team and is one of the most successful coaches in college gymnastics history. Plocki led Michigan to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2021, an impressive 26 Big Ten championships (most by any coach in any sport in Big Ten history), and guided the team to 26 NCAA Championship appearances and 10 NCAA Super Six berths. Plocki has earned 11 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards and 10 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors. She was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1994.
The winningest coach in Detroit PSL history (253-112), guiding the Detroit King Crusaders to nine PSL titles and six runner-up finishes from 1974-2009. King was the first PSL school to reach the state football finals (1989 and 1990) and the first team to win the state title. King was struggling when Reynolds took over – he built his program by recruiting and changed the way PSL teams played. King players adored Reynolds because they knew football was a means to an end for him in that he worked hard to get his players into college. He passed away in 2020. Died on December 12, 2020, at the age of 75.
Across two tenures leading the Trenton High School hockey program, Turner coached 28 seasons and amassed a 629–126–52 record, the most wins in Michigan high school hockey history. His teams won 11 state championships and finished as runner-up four times. Four of his players earned the State of Michigan Mr. Hockey award, 40 players advanced to junior hockey, 35 competed at the collegiate level and six reached the professional ranks. Turner was named National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2015.

MEDIA

Over a 25-year career spanning the 1960s through the 1980s, he became one of the city’s most influential and recognizable sports broadcasters, working for both WDIV (Channel 4) and WXYZ (Channel 7). Ackerman is widely remembered for coining the phrase “Bless You Boys,” a rallying cry that became synonymous with the Detroit Tigers 1984 World Series championship season. Beyond his on-air impact, he was honored for his contributions to sports and the community with induction into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Died on June 6, 2016, at the age of 90.
Grew up in Redford Township and graduated from Michigan State University. Beat writer and sports columnist at the Lansing State Journal from 1978 to 2003. Three-time National Sports Media Association Michigan Sportswriter of the Year, two-time NSMA Sportscaster of the Year. Has received over twenty major state and national sports writing awards. Served as Michigan chairman for the Heisman Memorial Trophy for 36 years. 2006 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Born and raised in Madison Heights and a graduate of Grand Valley State University, Keating’s broadcasting career began in Detroit in the 1990s. Retiring in 2025, as an anchor and host for Fan Duel Sports Network, Keating also worked at FOX Sports Detroit and PASS winning more than a dozen Emmys in his 45-year career that included a 29-year tenure as host of Red Wings and Tigers broadcasts. Keating’s tenure saw the Red Wings win Stanley Cup Championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, as well as two Tigers World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012.
A native of East Lansing and graduate of Michigan State University, Staudt has been the “Dean of Sports” in his hometown for more than 50 years. He has hosted the “Staudt on Sports” radio show daily since 1993 and worked as a sports anchor at WILX-TV since 1980. He previously anchored sports at the former WJIM-TV throughout the 1970s. This marks the longest tenure on television of any sportscaster in the State of Michigan. Staudt is a member of the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame and Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Woods became the youngest captain in Detroit Red Wings team history prior to Steve Yzerman and played 501 games in seven seasons as a member of the Red Wings. The 1983-84 season was his last in the NHL and in 1987, Woods transitioned to the broadcast booth as the Red Wings radio color commentator. On October 17, 2022, he reached a remarkable milestone by providing color commentary in his 3,000th game, cementing his status as the longest-serving radio color commentator in Detroit sports history. Woods retired after the 2025-26 season, his 40th with the Red Wings.

CONTRIBUTOR

Born in Detroit, Ewald was a sportswriter for the Detroit News and sports editor at the Grand Rapids Press before beginning an 18-year career in 1978 as head of Media and Public Relations for the Detroit Tigers. After leaving the Tigers in 1996, Ewald began serving as Sparky Anderson’s business manager until Anderson’s death. Ewald also played a key role in founding CATCH, a charitable organization created with Anderson to support pediatric patients and families. Died on July 11, 2018, at the age of 73.
Influential advocate for professional soccer in southeastern Michigan known best for establishing the Detroit Express, a North American Soccer League franchise which operated from 1978 to 1980. Faulkner helped to boost the sport’s popularity and legitimacy in the state by acquiring on loan English star Trevor Francis for the 1979 season. Later involved in bringing the 1994 FIFA World Cup Group A game between the United States and Switzerland to the Pontiac Silverdome.
At age 17, in his Senior year at Ecorse High School, Ghindia was the youngest high school basketball coach in Michigan history, leading the team to a league championship. In 1943, he was a member of the Eights Crew that won both the National HS Rowing Championship and North American Rowing Eight’s Open Championship, upsetting the NCAA Champions. After graduating from high school, and serving in the United States Army Air Corps., he headed to the University of Michigan and was a linebacker and quarterback on two undefeated national championship teams. After college, he coached at Wyandotte St. Patrick (football, basketball, baseball) and Ecorse (tennis, hockey) High Schools winning over 500 games/matches and fielding numerous championship teams. As Ecorse Recreation Director (1956-72) he was instrumental in building youth hockey in the Mero Detroit area. Died on March 16, 2012, at the age of 86.
Championship race car sponsor from 1967-1990, primarily for AJ Foyt and Gordon Johncock. Gilmore-sponsored cars won a total of thirty races, including four Indy 500s with Foyt. Noted philanthropic contributor who operated K-Wings Stadium, home of the Kalamazoo Wings ice hockey team. 1989 Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. Died on December 31, 2000, at age 74.
Born in Wyandotte, All-American baseball player at Western Michigan University who later joined the Detroit Tigers as a scout and ascended to general manager role under legendary Tigers executive Jim Campbell. Responsible for acquiring core components of Detroit’s 1984 World Series champion team and 1987 AL East winner. Won two additional World Series as a consultant for the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. Died on December 28, 2010, at age 76.

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