Michael Brubaker
Nominated by
Erin Brubaker Higbee
Mike Brubaker was born in Ashland,
Ohio to Dale and Donna Brubaker on October 11, 1948. He has one sister, Jennifer (Marquette). He attended Osborn Elementary school as well as Ashland Junior and Senior High Schools. He graduated from Ashland Senior High in 1966.
Mike was a three sport athlete in high school participating in football, wrestling and track. He earned seven varsity letters during his career. In football he played guard/tackle and was on the kickoff and return teams. His senior year he placed third at the J.C. Gorman wrestling tournament in Mansfield in the 185 pound weight class. Track was his favorite sport where he was a three year letterman. Mike threw the shot put and discus as well as high jumped. Among his competitions was a win at the Ashland Relays in the shot put, second at the Worthington Relays in the shot put and fourth in the high jump, as well as firsts in the shot put against Ontario, Willard, Malabar, and Norwalk.
After high school graduation, Mike attended Ashland College where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education (history major). During his college years he was a four year letterman, throwing the shot put, discus and javelin. Some of his accomplishments were First at Hillsdale Relays (shot put relay record), Second at Ohio Northern Relays, Third at NAIA District 22, First at Western Frontier Championships in New York. At Ashland College May Day Championships, in 1970, he set a new Ashland
College record in the shot put. At this same time, Mike was able to become a registered OHSAA wrestling official. The year after graduation in 1970, he was the throwing coach at Ashland College under head coach Paul Armor. In 1971 Mike was also the head shot put judge at the NCAA Division III Track and Field National Championships held at Ashland College.
After being hired by the Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools as a teacher and coach in 1970, he spent his ENTIRE 39 year teaching career in the district. During this period of time he coached both boys and girls at the junior and senior high levels. Among some of his accomplishments were starting the elementary and junior high wrestling programs, serving as varsity track and wrestling coach, coaching the schools first two state wrestling placers, serving as J.V. softball coach with a record of 135-23 and coaching Russ Reynolds to a second place in the state track meet (shot put).
Outside of school, Mike spent much of his time of 35 years playing softball for many local and area teams. He collected many MVP, All-Star, and home run championship trophy's. Mike played several years of semi-pro football for the Mohican Raiders of the Penn-Ohio League. In the championship game of 1974, he was a key to the teams victory by recording 10 solo tackles and a team leading four quarterback sacks. Still participating in track Mike set a local AAU record in the shot put at Mansfield All Comers Meet in 1977.
In 1993 he placed third at the Mansfield Bench-press Championships novice
heavyweight division.
Mike considers himself to be very fortunate to have been able to coach
his daughter Erin (softball) and his son Mike (football/track) during their
outstanding athletic careers at Ashland High School. Mike is still active today,
serving as the throwing coach at Ashland High School for the last few years.
After retiring from teaching in 2009, Mike is now spending more time at home with his wife of 30 years, Rita. "Without the love, support and understanding of my wife, I could not have done the things that I have in my life. I
thank her so very much."
Mike would especially like to thank the numerous individuals that were his coaches, his teammates, his colleagues and members of the teams he has coached over the years. He also expresses a deep gratitude to his family, parents Dale and Donna, sister Jennifer, wife Rita and children Erin and Mike, for their patience and support of his career.
