2025 BARBERTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME – Mike Bodnar, Class of 1972

By RANDY FORST
BGNN sports editor

The 2025 Induction Ceremony will be Nov. 26 at Al’s banquet facility. This year’s Barberton Hall of Fame class includes Mike Bodnar, Brittany Mingo, Scott Sabol, Mike Palija, Charlie Ries (O.C. Barber) and Barberton Tree (President’s Award).

A 1972 Barberton High graduate, Mike Bodnar participated in three sports: football, track, and basketball. It was football where Bodnar was most successful.

The Magics in 1971 were NEO Conference champions. In that season, Bodnar set a Barberton record with nine interceptions. He was named first team All-NEO Conference as a defensive back. He was also named second team All-District, second team All-State, and the Magics’ best defensive back. The defensive backs were instrumental in the Magics 8-1-1 season. They were coached by Rudy Sharkey, who called his DB’s the “Dirty Dozen.”
Bodnar also excelled on the track, as a distance runner under Glenn “Jeep” Davis.

At Barberton High, Bodnar was Class President, on the National Honor Society, and President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Akron. He was nominated for the Sports Hall of Fame by David Cooper.