Michael D. Michelakis was a three-sport student-athlete and high school football standout for the Barons. He earned six varsity letters while at Buckeye Valley High School from 1987-1991. Mike was a three-year starter on the offensive line at B.V.H.S., and was a two-time all-Delaware County First Team selection, an Academic all-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference First Team selection, an all-Central District Special Mention selection, and an all-Ohio Honorable Mention selection. Mike is one of only 37 players in Buckeye Valley's 47-year history to go on to play college football, one of only nine to go on to play Division I college football, and one of only four to go on to play some form of professional football. He was awarded the Baron award, the Student-Athlete award, the Hardin award, and the U.S. Navy Reserve student-athlete award. Mike placed sixth in the Central Buckeye League meet discus event in 1988 as a freshman on the Buckeye Valley track squad. Mike also finished third in the Central Buckeye League wrestling championships in 1990 as a junior in the heavyweight division. Academically, graduated fifth out of 120 in his class with a 3.765 G.P.A. as a member of the National Honor Society. He received the Presidential Academic Fitness award, the State Award of Distinction, and was named Teen-of-the-Week by the Delaware Gazette and the Elks Lodge of Delaware as a senior during the 1990-1991 school year. Mike participated in school, county, district and state Science Fairs as a sophomore and as a junior, receiving Superior ratings at all four levels in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Michael also competed in three Buckeye Valley lift-a-thon fundraising events from 1988-1990. He placed fourth as a freshman in 1988 and ended up winning it all by placing first as a sophomore in 1989 and first again as a junior in 1990. Mike ended up raising over $2,200 for the B.V. weight room during his three off-seasons, including over $1,000 in one off-season alone as a sophomore, while raising over $500 as a freshman and over $700 as a junior. Mike Michelakis truly epitomized what it meant to be a Fighting Baron.