#22 Halfback/Defensive Back/Linebacker: 1962-65
Both head coach Chet Jurkovac and assistant coach Allen Bauman immediately named Mike
Gratz when asked who the best players of his era were. Mike was one of the most versatile
players for the Pointers. He returned kickoffs during the last two games of his freshman
season in 1962, started at defensive back and saw some snaps at halfback as a sophomore in
the '63 season. Mike rarely left the field his junior and senior year, playing inside linebacker
and halfback where he both ran and passed from several times a game. He also continued
returning kicks, and handled the kicking duties for the team. During his playing years, he was
able to find the end zone 10 times, and scored 13 extra points - both through kicking and
rushing. His 73 career points place him in the top 40 all-time in Mineral Point scoring history.
From 1962 to 1965, the SWAL conference did not name an all-conference team since the teams
did not play all of the other teams in the 14 team conference, or Mike would certainly have
been recognized as one of the best in the SWAL.
Mike went on to play for one season at UW Whitewater started at middle linebacker and
kicked his freshman year, and then was called up for the army reserve and never returned to
college. When he came back to Mineral Point, Mike became an avid supporter of the program
by becoming a long-time member of the "chain gang" starting in 1968. For 57 years, he has
worked the chains on the sidelines during home games - rain, wind, snow, or fair weather.
Mike fondly remembers his playing days, especially his senior season, where the Pointers were
in position to win the conference title going into the last game of the year at Lancaster. He
remembers the heartbreak of falling short 14-7 in his final game in Pointer blue.
Mike lettered 4 years in football, 3 years in track, 3 years in golf, and 1 year in baseball. He still
resides in Mineral Point, and remains on the "chain gang" for every Friday night home game.
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