BARBERTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME Two-sport Magic star nominated by brother

Mike Palija, 1967 graduate of Barberton High, is being inducted in the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame.

By RANDY FORST
BGNN sports editor

A 1967 graduate of Barberton High, Mike Palija was a two-sport star for the Magics. In baseball, playing for legendary coach Les Scarr he lettered twice, while in football he was a defensive back for coach Tom Phillips and assistant John Mackovic.

After graduating, Palija went to Miami of Ohio, where he made the team as a freshman. It was at Miami where he played under two Barberton Hall of Famers, Bo Schembechler and assistant Tom Dimitroff.

In his junior year Palija set a school record for pass receptions in a season and tied the record for catches in a game with 9. At the end of the year, he was named Honorable Mention All-MAC.

He was a teammate of another Barberton Hall of Famer, quarterback and placekicker Archie Strimmel. Palija was the holder for Archie’s extra points and field goals. In his senior season he tied a school record for TD receptions in a game with three and set another record with 159 yards receiving yards against Northern Illinois, for which he was named the MAC Offensive Back of the Week. At the end of the year, he had set a Miami record for receiving yards in a season and led the MAC in yards per catch and receiving touchdowns. He also was named to the All-MAC first team. When his career ended at Miami, he was the all-time leading receiver in receptions and receiving yards.

After college he went to work at his father-in-law’s businesses the Toledo Fruit Company and the West Catawba Marina in Port Clinton. He currently works at the Jet Express Ferry. Palija lives in Port Clinton with his wife, Denise. They have three children: Bryan, Mike, and Heather and five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Palija was nominated for the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame by his brother Dan Palija.