BARBERTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2024 Magics’ multi-sport athlete became conditioning coach for pros

 

Mike Winkler

By RANDY FORST
BGNN sports editor

On Nov. 27, the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame will honor their 2024 class at a ceremony at Al’s. This year’s class will feature Mike Lee, Mike Winkler, Jeff Travis, Paul Okolish, Joan Tonathy, Carol Gadanac, Caines Flowers, and Brandon and Monica Cramer.

Mike Winkler is going into the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame as a strength and conditioning coach and as a football player.
A 1999 BHS graduate, Winkler competed in just about every sport as a youngster including basketball, baseball, and wrestling. In 1993, he won a state championship for the Barberton Teen Center, competing as a heavyweight in his age group. When he entered BHS, he earned three letters in both football and baseball. As a baseball player, he played on the 1997 Regional finals team and in football the 1998 playoff team. He receives all state mentions in both sports.

After leaving Barberton, Winkler entered Walsh University where he again played both baseball and football. In football he earned All-American honors in 2003. He graduated from Walsh with a Bachelor’s degree in education in Multi-Aged Education. From Walsh it was on to Akron University where he developed strength and conditioning programs for baseball, women’s soccer and women’s Tennis. He also worked with the Akron football team. He graduated from Akron with a Masters of Science in Sports Science and Coaching Degree.

From 2006-2008 he was strength and condition coach for the Cleveland Indians, working with the Lake Erie Captains in 2006 and the Buffalo Bisons from 2007-2008, and he also did extensive off-season work with Indian star C. C. Sabathia. He also worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates from 2009-2013. He was fortunate to work with three Cy Young Award winners, Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Clayton Kershaw.

After his baseball career, Winkler went to Hoban High School where he was Director of Strength and Conditioning coach. While at Hoban, Winkler was part of 14 state championships in six different sports. From 2016-2019 Mike served as the Ohio State Director for the National High School Strength Coaches Association. He now serves as Great Lakes Regional Director for the National High School Strength Coaches Association.

He and his wife, Nikki, and their daughter, Lucy, are residents of Wadsworth. Winkler was nominated for the Hall of Fame by Brad Fox.