Michael Mychak

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 11, 2024
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INDUCTEE

Mike Mychak is a 1966 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School and competed in both basketball and track and field for the Red Tornadoes. He was elected captain of both sports as a senior and led the thinclads in scoring in both his junior and senior seasons.

Mychak first set the MCA record in the 180 yard low hurdles as a sophomore and bettered that mark as a senior, while setting the Southern Conference Meet record and winning the District IV Gold medal in the record time of 20.4 at Williamsport. This was at a time when all schools ran in the same division – no AA or AAA, and ran on cinder tracks. His best time of 20.2 equaled the all-time regional record as noted in the Reading Eagle. In competitions from 1964-1966. Mike earned ribbons in three different events in Southern Conference meets, including the 120 highs, 180 lows, and the triple jump. Mike also earned 7 medals in District IV competition in 4 different events including the high jump. Entering the state meet, Mychak was undefeated in the 180 lows. Unfortunately, his block slipped, leaving him face down on the track. He still managed to get up and run a 20.8: however leaving him out of the money.

Following graduation, Mychak chose to attend Dickinson College over the University of Pennsylvania to continue his running career. Mike ran for the Red Devils for 4 years, leading the team in scoring as a freshman. During the course of his career, Mychak would compete in 7 different events, including the 100 yard dash, high jump, triple jump, long jump, high hurdles, intermediate hurdles, and 4 x 100 relay.

While at MCA, Mike also participated in basketball for Coach Bob Varano. He was a two-year starter as a 6 foot center, leading the team in rebounding for 2 years and averaging a shade under 13 points per game. The 1966 team would win 8 consecutive games on the way to a fine 13-9 record and would average 72.1 points per game, just behind the 78.2 PPG of the 1965 team. The 1965-66 Tornado five is particularly notable, in that, it featured 3 all state players – Joe Buchinski, Greg Doviak, and Frank Niglio. Unfortunately for Coach Varano, they were all state in football! Today, Mychak will join Buchinski, Doviak, Niglio, and Varano as members of the Ed Romance Chapter of the Penna Sports Hall of Fame.

Mike graduated in 1970 with a Degree in history from Dickinson and in 1973 with his Juris Doctorate, also from Dickinson. He has been a Magisterial District Court Justice in Mount Carmel since 1973. He and his wife, Joyce, are parents of four children, Adam, Ashley, Nathan, and Colin.