The Athena senior recovers from a broken leg to defend his Section V Class A wrestling title

By James Johnson
Democrat and Chronicle

(Feb. 21, 2000) -- There was some doubt whether Mike Pagano would be able to repeat as a Section V wrestling champion this season.

The Greece Athena senior broke his leg playing football for the school's team, raising the possibility that he would be doing rehabilitation excercises instead of wrestling this winter.

But Pagano not only made it back to wrestling mats around Monroe County -- he also remained Section V's Class A 140-pound champion.