Mike Panarella earned acclaim on the mat and the gridiron at Millersville in the late '60s and early '70s.
In wrestling, he earned NCAA College Division All-American honors in 1970-71 in the 177-pound weight class and was named the Elwood J. Finley Award winner as MSC's outstanding senior male athlete in '71. Also in his senior year, Panarella earned the Theodore H. Rupp Award as Millersville's most outstanding wrestler.
On the mat, Panarella earned four varsity letters and was a three-time placewinner in PSAC Championships action. He posted a career record of 74-17-3.
On the football field, Panarella earned three varsity letters and was an All-PSAC selection in his junior and senior seasons. He played for Coach Gene Carpenter's first winning season at the 'Ville in 1971.
In 1972, Panarella was selected to Who's Who Among American College Students.
Panarella has had an active and extensive coaching record in his post-graduate career. With the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, he coached three years each in wrestling, baseball and softball.
At Shawnee High School in Medford, N.J. where he is a history and psychology teacher, Panarella has served in coaching capacities in the following sports (with years of service in parentheses): soccer (16), swimming (15), track (official, 15), football (3), wrestling (3) and softball (4). He is still active in soccer and swimming coaching.
He served two years as South Jersey Select soccer coach and one year as a Garden State Games soccer mentor, and he has coached numerous youth club teams in baseball and soccer.
A member of the Pennsauken High School and South Jersey halls of fame, Panarella has been commended for his work as an educator and coach. He was named outstanding teacher of the Holocaust by the Jewish Community Recreation Center and currently chairs several scholastic D.A.R.E. drug-free educational committees. In addition, he has twice earned commendations by the Medford police department.
