Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Brown, Mike
Mike Brown
- Induction:
- 2010
- Class:
- 1980
One of just two four-time All-Americans in Lehigh wrestling history, Mike Brown was the first to accomplish the feat, doing so in four straight seasons from 1977-1980. In addition, Brown is one of only eight four-time champions in the history of the EIWA. An accomplished pinner, Brown ranks third in school history with 36 career falls and at the time of his graduation, the Bethlehem native held the school record for career wins (95) and bonus wins (67).
“It’s certainly an honor and a privilege to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Brown. “To join a group with all the other elite athletes, who competed at Lehigh, which is an elite university for sports and academics is certainly a tremendous honor.”
“Mike was a great pinner and could roll anybody with his side roll,” recalled his former coach Thad Turner. “Gerry Leeman used to say, ‘If Grace Hall had an arm, Mike Brown could roll it.’ Mike is one of just two four-time placers for Lehigh and its due time that he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Two-time NCAA champion Mark Lieberman ‘79 was a teammate and training partner of Brown’s during one of Lehigh’s most successful eras.
“Mike was incredibly strong from the top position,” said Lieberman, who, like Brown won four EIWA titles for the Brown and White. “My sophomore year I lost in the national finals, because I couldn’t get out from the bottom position. After that I worked out every day with Mike because he was so tough on top. He’s the one who taught me how to get out.”
Lieberman concluded, “Mike is someone who is very special to me and I’m very happy to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Brown burst onto the scene as a true freshman, going 26-3 and winning an EIWA Championship at 177 before placing fifth at the NCAA Tournament. The next season, Brown moved up to 190, where he again went 26-3, this time with 13 falls and 20 bonus victories. He captured his second EIWA title and earned his second straight All-America honor with a third place finish. In that tournament, Brown defeated Fred Bohna of UCLA 8-0 to earn All-America status, the first of four career impressive victories for Brown over NCAA Champions.
In 1979, Brown captured his third EIWA Championship and enjoyed his best NCAA finish of his career as he placed second at 190, losing to Eric Wais of Oklahoma State in the finals. In his senior season, Brown went 22-3 and captured his fourth EIWA Championship and won the Fletcher Memorial Trophy for the most team points scored in his EIWA career in the first Eastern tournament held at Stabler Arena. In his final NCAA Championship, Brown battled through injuries to place seventh, earning his fourth All-American medal to finish his career with an impressive 95-12 mark.
Since graduating from Lehigh in 1980 with a degree in biology, Brown spent over 25 years as a pharmacist at Newhard Pharmacy in Northampton, Pa., before moving on to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Hellertown, Pa.
“In the end it comes down to what a guy does with that degree,” explained Turner. “Mike worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the mats and has done very well for himself.”
Brown and his wife Diane have three children: Michael, Shayne and Isabel. A two-year team captain, Brown was one of 13 children and the second of four Brown brothers to wrestle for the Brown and White, joining Charlie ’78, Pat ’82 and Bernie ’86. Bernie won two EIWA titles in his career to pull the Browns even with the Liebermans for most EIWA titles won by a family at Lehigh (six).
“It’s certainly an honor and a privilege to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Brown. “To join a group with all the other elite athletes, who competed at Lehigh, which is an elite university for sports and academics is certainly a tremendous honor.”
“Mike was a great pinner and could roll anybody with his side roll,” recalled his former coach Thad Turner. “Gerry Leeman used to say, ‘If Grace Hall had an arm, Mike Brown could roll it.’ Mike is one of just two four-time placers for Lehigh and its due time that he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Two-time NCAA champion Mark Lieberman ‘79 was a teammate and training partner of Brown’s during one of Lehigh’s most successful eras.
“Mike was incredibly strong from the top position,” said Lieberman, who, like Brown won four EIWA titles for the Brown and White. “My sophomore year I lost in the national finals, because I couldn’t get out from the bottom position. After that I worked out every day with Mike because he was so tough on top. He’s the one who taught me how to get out.”
Lieberman concluded, “Mike is someone who is very special to me and I’m very happy to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Brown burst onto the scene as a true freshman, going 26-3 and winning an EIWA Championship at 177 before placing fifth at the NCAA Tournament. The next season, Brown moved up to 190, where he again went 26-3, this time with 13 falls and 20 bonus victories. He captured his second EIWA title and earned his second straight All-America honor with a third place finish. In that tournament, Brown defeated Fred Bohna of UCLA 8-0 to earn All-America status, the first of four career impressive victories for Brown over NCAA Champions.
In 1979, Brown captured his third EIWA Championship and enjoyed his best NCAA finish of his career as he placed second at 190, losing to Eric Wais of Oklahoma State in the finals. In his senior season, Brown went 22-3 and captured his fourth EIWA Championship and won the Fletcher Memorial Trophy for the most team points scored in his EIWA career in the first Eastern tournament held at Stabler Arena. In his final NCAA Championship, Brown battled through injuries to place seventh, earning his fourth All-American medal to finish his career with an impressive 95-12 mark.Since graduating from Lehigh in 1980 with a degree in biology, Brown spent over 25 years as a pharmacist at Newhard Pharmacy in Northampton, Pa., before moving on to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Hellertown, Pa.
“In the end it comes down to what a guy does with that degree,” explained Turner. “Mike worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the mats and has done very well for himself.”
Brown and his wife Diane have three children: Michael, Shayne and Isabel. A two-year team captain, Brown was one of 13 children and the second of four Brown brothers to wrestle for the Brown and White, joining Charlie ’78, Pat ’82 and Bernie ’86. Bernie won two EIWA titles in his career to pull the Browns even with the Liebermans for most EIWA titles won by a family at Lehigh (six).
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