BHS Athlete Profile: Mike Palicz

The Palicz family moved from Yorktown, NY, in August 2002 and brought with them to Brookfield a strong student, an athlete and a leader in their oldest son Michael Palicz.

Palicz was part of a very talented group of graduating student athletes honored by Brookfield High School earlier this spring. Primarily a two sport athlete, Palicz shone as a linebacker for the Bobcats, helping Brookfield become the Class M Connecticut State Football Champions in 2008.  Three years of varsity football earned him the respect of his teammates, who elected him team captain for his senior season.

A telling moment came during the semifinal game in which Palicz and the Bobcats found themselves trailing at the half.  He described it as a "moment of clarity," when he and his teammates really understood what was at stake and then stormed out onto the field and ultimately brought a championship to Brookfield.

His gridiron success was equaled by his performance on the baseball diamond where he pitched and played infield for four years. Palicz enjoyed a standout career, starting for his varsity side as a freshman and being elected captain as a sophomore — the youngest captain in School history.  Despite not winning a title, he was able to lead the Bobcats to the Connecticut State playoffs for the first time in 10 years and is also able to boast the highest individual accomplishment for a pitcher: throwing a perfect game.

Like most student athletes, Palicz brought his strong work ethic back into the classroom.  He was named to the All-Conference Academic team in both football and baseball and made the Brookfield High School honor roll every marking period in his high school career. His academic and athletic achievements at BHS were rewarded as Palicz was named the 2010 recipient of the United States Army National Scholar/Athlete Leadership Award.  This award is given annually to two high school students in select schools around the nation and is designed to recognize high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics.

While his accomplishments on the field and in the classroom certainly deserve praise, Palicz also ventured out into the community to provide service to those in need.  Taking his athletic knowledge to the youth in Brookfield, Palicz spent time helping out the local Pop Warner teams and still umpires township games when he has the chance.  However his proudest achievement came from helping young athletes in a different way.

In 2009, he donated his time to the Connecticut Special Olympics where he worked with counselors to organize equipment and supplies, performed administrative duties and used his leadership abilities to recruit volunteers for a softball tournament. "It really provided a new perspective on the important things," said Palicz. "It was so rewarding to see the looks on kids faces hearing their names announced as they came to bat," he said.

The experience left quite an impression on Palicz, who considers his time spent with the Special Olympics a landmark moment in his life. "I consider working with the Special Olympics a privilege and one of the most significant experiences of my life. For this reason, no matter what career path I choose, I will continue to work with the Special Olympics."

That career path begins this fall, when Palicz will be attending Washington and Lee University on scholarship, with the goal of continuing his playing career in both baseball and football.  "I'm not sure what I want to focus on," he said, "but I am really interested in politics and law and want to take advantage of the opportunities Washington and Lee has to offer."

The private college in Virginia offers a new culture and a new challenge for Palicz, who leaves Brookfield with fond memories and a lasting impression.  He wishes to take his experiences in college and find a way to give back to the community, by donating his time to baseball camps and developing a more structured program to expose youth baseball players to high school ball.

As Brookfield Athletic Director Chris McDougal said in June, "It's going to be a different school next year without these seniors." Certainly, with student-athletes like Mike Palicz setting an example, there will continue to be a tradition of excellence at Brookfield High School.