NCAA Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community.

Throughout this week, we will learn about the dedicated faculty and staff members who help make the W&J athletic department a special place.  

Today, we learn more about one half of W&J's talented and dedicated duos atop the Presidents' sports medicine team, Mike Lesako. Mike was honored with the prestigious California University (Pa.) Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award in 2008. The special honor was awarded due to Mike's tremendous work in the athletic training field following the completion of his master's program at Cal.  Following the 2022-23 academic year, Mike  was recognized by Waynesburg University as its Preceptor of the Year Award through his work with the Master of Science Athletic Training program.  Mike was acknowledged as W&J's Jack Rea Staff Member of the Year by the Department of Athletics for his work in the academic year of 2016-17.  Before coming to W&J, he served as the head athletic trainer at Salem International from 1998-99 and as an assistant in 1997-98.

Mike, and his brother Mark Lesako (stay tuned this week for Mark's feature) form one of the strongest teams W&J College offers.  They are a dedicated and selfless duo who have impacted W&J student-athletes for over a quarter century. 

Favorite professional sports team?
Mike:  Any Pittsburgh team.  (Yes, even the Pirates 😊 )  Haha.

My favorite thing to do when away from work is...
Mike:  Spend time with my family.

What is your favorite number and why?
Mike: #5.  It was my first jersey number.

Do you have a role model?
Mike: My mother (Virginia).  She was amazing.  She instilled morals and values in me that molded me into the person I am.  I have never met a more unselfish and caring person in my life.  My mom was the best and I was truly blessed to have her.

What would your walk up song be for W&J baseball/softball?
Mike: Public Service Announcement by Jay Z.  The beginning of the song where it says "allow me to reintroduce myself" 

Your favorite Halloween costume?
Mike: My wife (Teresa) and I dressed up as The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who one year.

What is the best concert you've ever attended?
Mike: Kenny Chesney

Describe yourself in 3 words…
Mike: Compassionate.  Loyal.  Unselfish.   

If you could switch lives with any one person for one day, who would you choose?
Mike: Mark Lesako.  No question.

What is the most interesting spot in the world that you have traveled to? 
Mike: Vatican City.  To walk into those churches was simply an amazing feeling.

Have you ever met a celebrity?  What celebrity would you most like to meet? 
Mike: I have met quite a few celebrities to be honest, mostly athletes.  I would like to meet Rob Gronkowski.  I think Gronk and I would have quite the conversation and have a fun day hanging out.

What do you enjoy most about working at Washington & Jefferson College and with our student-athletes and coaches? 
Mike: What I enjoy the most is getting to know the student-athletes personally.  I want to know where they are from, if they have siblings, their parents' names, things like that.  We try to make it a "family-like" environment in the athletic training room and we encourage conversations and openness.   We have a "question of the day" on our dry erase board to help spark conversations.  This also allows us to see what student-athletes are thinking and we can get a feel for their moral values and interests that some of them have and hopefully get a true understanding of their personalities.