Hiram’s Paes receives award

By John Kovach

The Springfield High graduate played four years for the Terriers.

HIRAM — For all of the young men who would like to play high school or college football but think that they are too small, Michael Paes of New Middletown, a recent Hiram College graduate, has a message.

“I’d say that it doesn’t matter how big or how small or how strong you are, that as long as you have the will to keep fighting on the field and focusing in the classroom, you can be successful at Hiram or any other smaller college, as long as you have that will to fight and [are] giving 110 percent,” said Paes, who should know something about the importance of motivation and dedication being a great equalizer.

Because even though Paes was a small player, he became a three-year starter at running back and linebacker for Springfield High, and a four-year starter for Hiram College at fullback and then slot receiver, capping his career last fall.

And just recently, he was presented a Postgraduate Scholarship Award from the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation at a banquet April 28 in Westlake.

“It is just a reward for my accomplishments as a student and a football player that I can use for my master’s degree,” said Paes, who had a great time at the banquet and meeting celebrities.

“We had a nice dinner. Some other kids were announced as winning various awards. There were about eight college kids from Northeast Ohio who won something,” Paes said. “I got to meet Jim Tressel [Ohio State coach] and Phil Savage [Cleveland Browns general manager], Deacon Jones and Brian Brennan, former Browns’ players.

“[The scholarship award is] something that Jim Tressel is in charge of. Basically it’s like in his dad’s [Lee Tresssel’s] name.”

The the son of Maria and Richard Paes, Michael represents the ideal collegiate student-athlete who is determined to succeed on the athletic field and it the classroom by meeting the high standards of both pursuits.

“I put school first and I focused on school. I worked just as hard [in my studies] as I did in football. I gave 110 percent. That was my high reward,” said Paes, who had the highest grade-point average on the team with 3.35 and graduated May 5 with a degree in middle education to teach science and social studies.

He said he doesn’t know exactly how much the scholarship is worth, but that he can apply the funds toward a master’s degree.

Without the scholarship, “I would have [had] to take out more loans than I [have] now. It is gratifying because it rewards you for being a scholar-athlete.”

Paes doesn’t know where he will go for graduate school, but that he wants to pursue a career in middle school administration or guidance counseling, and eventually coaching.

He also won Hiram’s Presidential Scholarship Award for having the highest GPA on the team and for his commitment to the squad.

Paes said the best part of playing for Hiram was “being able to start every year and getting my opportunity and making the most of my shot. We didn’t win too many games but I played four years of college football. I never missed a game. I played in every game. I started every game,” he is happy to emphasize.

Paes believes that he was a leader for his teammates because of his determination to succeed despite his small physical size.

“Leadership was my biggest contribution, especially my last two years, and never giving up and showing my teammates that I never give up,” said Paes, who was co-captain as a senior and caught 22 passes for 116 yards in coach Bob Wolfe’s first season at the helm.

Wolfe, who formerly coached at Warren Harding High, served as defensive coordinator for two seasons before being promoted to the head post.

Paes’ coach at Springfield High was John Smith.

“I am not very big — 5-6 and 165 — but I played four years [at Hiram]. I started three years at fullback and then started at slot receiver my senior year,” said Paes, who likens himself to a former Notre Dame player who also was small.

“I’m a little like Rudy [Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger of the 1975 Fighting Irish football team in the 1993 film “Rudy”], but Rudy was a little bigger.”

Of course, “Rudy” only got to play in one game — the last one of the 1975 season — whereas Paes started every game for four years.

kovach@vindy.com