Margi Whittingham serves as the Development Program Director for Great Lakes Regional Field Hockey. Whittingham has over 25 years of field hockey experience and is passionate about growing the game in our region. She was an All-American field hockey player at Tufts University where she served as team captain; she also coached collegiately at Tufts University and Johns Hopkins University. She currently coaches at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Kristin Reinhart and Downi Fernburg, a doubles team from Lansing, are two of the top pickleball players in Michigan. They are both 5.0 level players who have medaled at several top-tier tournaments such as the Beer City Open, Minto US Open, Michigan State Championships, and the APP Tour Vlasic Classic. Reinhart and Fernburg are heavily involved in the local pickleball scene in Greater Lansing, helping to grow the game in our region. Fernburg also serves as a pickleball instructor at Court One Athletic Club.
Caroline Powers Ellis is a Michigan State Women's Golf All-American who earned a spot in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame for her playing accomplishments. Post-collegiately, she spent three years on the Symetra Tour before returning to Michigan State as an assistant coach from 2017 to 2022. Powers Ellis was the Head Women's Golf Coach at Notre Dame from 2022 to 2025 and currently works part-time with Michigan State Women's Golf as the Coordinator of Social Media and Player Development.
Rachel Sampson is a Michigan State Women's Golf alumna. She had a decorated career as a Spartan, and was selected for the All-Big Ten Team after winning the Big Ten Championship as an individual. Sampson has poured into the future of the game, working with the First Tee of Mid-Michigan for nearly ten years in various roles, including Executive Director and Board President. She has also served as the Local Tour Director for the US Kids Michigan Junior Golf Tour. Sampson still enjoys competing in amateur events and earned a spot in the 2025 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur.
Lacey Rumzek has been involved in archery for eight years. She is in her fifth year of coaching and second year as head coach for the Grand Ledge Archery Team through the National Archery in the Schools Program. Her favorite 3D animal is the ram, and she enjoys helping kids find their love of the sport.
Christy Hacker has been a trailblazer for women competing in esports. Hacker was one of the first women in Michigan to earn a scholarship to compete in collegiate esports, spending four years at Aquinas College. She is a founding member of both Pinckney High School esports and Aquinas College esports. She currently coaches at both Aquinas College and Rockford High School, where both teams have found tremendous success. Hacker also assists with Michigan State University esports.
FIERCE Girls in Sports is a dynamic, empowering clinic designed to ignite confidence and connection in young female athletes.
Register for the 2026 FIERCE Girls in Sports Clinic. If you’re interested in sponsoring an athlete, contact Meghan Ziehmer at mziehmer@lansing.org.
