Mike Berg

Athlete: Football-Baseball-Rodeo

The Linden High School Football and Baseball Teams experienced much success in the
1980’s and in the middle of that success was Mike Berg. Mike can be considered as
one of the best all around athletes to come out of Linden High School. Mike was
destined to excel at any sport that he participated.

As a freshman at Linden, Mike would be a three sport standout playing football,
basketball, and baseball. At a time when there were limited youth sport opportunities
prior to high school, Mike’s innate athletic ability propelled him. Mike was a starter in all
three sports.

As Mike became a sophomore, he would start a journey that would be filled with
championships. As a two way starter on the JV Football team, they would win the
Mother Lode League Championship. The players from that team would never lose a
league game while in high school through their senior year. Mike played basketball that
winter but his sights were set on the spring where he would win another Mother Lode
League Championship as the starting catcher on the JV baseball team.
Football and baseball would become the focus of Mike’s athletic career his final two
years at Linden. During his junior year, Mike was a two way starter at center and
linebacker on a Linden Football team that ended a Championship drought. Being
named to the MLL first team would be the start of many more accolades. On the
baseball field, Mike would lead the Lions to the playoffs at catcher. Once again Mike
would be recognized by the MLL coaches as he was voted 1 st team All MLL.

The Mother Lode League became very familiar with Mike Berg his senior year. Mike
would dominate the gridiron. His athletic ability was proven once again as he was asked
to move from center to fullback. As a two way starter, Mike was Team Captain and
played a huge roll as the Lions won their 2 nd consecutive MLL Championship. As a
result of his efforts, he was named Co-MVP of the Mother Lode League with his
teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, David Miller. Mike was also chosen to the Stockton
record All Area First Team and represented Linden in the Lions Central California All
Star Game. After a run in the playoffs, Mike would focus on baseball. In Mike’s second
varsity season, the Lions won the MLL Championship making it to the playoffs once
again. As a result of his skill and determination, Mike was All MLL in Baseball for the
second time and was named to the Stockton Record All Area Baseball team. Mike
would accept an athletic scholarship for baseball to Fresno State.

After one season of baseball at Fresno, it was his love for football that prompted a return
to the gridiron. After only one semester as a walk-on on the football team, the coaches
acknowledged his value and awarded him a full football scholarship thus confirming his
incredible athletic ability. Mike started at Fullback for the Bulldogs each season and in
his senior season he shared time with eventual NFL standout Lorenzo Neal.

When his incredible college football career came to a close, Mike could not sit idle. Mike
pursued a career in the professional rodeo as a steer wrestler. As in other sports, Mike
would excel. From 1993 to 1998 Mike would qualify for the California Professional

Rodeo Circuit Finals 6 times as he was in the top 12 each of those years. He would go
on to win over 20 professional rodeos in the US and Canada. After stepping down
professionally, Mike can still be seen competing in various rodeos in the region still
today.

Mike is the owner of AG West Inc. and is married to his high school sweetheart Irene
Lagorio. They currently reside in Linden with their three children; James, Lacey, and
Sophia. Mike can be found on the Lions sidelines on Friday nights coaching football.

The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Mike Berg into the
Class of 2010 for his accomplishments in Football, Baseball, and Rodeo.