OPRF's Max Sakellaris makes positive impact on and off the field

I admit to being “one of those guys” who frequent Facebook and Twitter - probably too often. I have followed thousands of UW-Whitewater student-athletes over my 25 years-plus “covering” Warhawk football on the radio and now on my Websites. For one reason or another I have “followed” a number of these former student-athletes via Facebook in their years post-college. It comes with great satisfaction when I see these former players having adapted to adult life. What is “so cool now is following a former Warhawk who is often now married with child (or children). There are many inspiring stories. Earlier today, the UW-Whitewater athletics Website posted a story published this week on www.oakpark.com. The feature story is titled: OPRF's Max Sakellaris makes positive impact on and off the field.

Here is an excerpt from the www.oakpark.com feature story…

Max attended UW-Whitewater (2003-2006) was a two-time All-American offensive tackle on the UW-Whitewater football team.

While Sakellaris flourished in three sports at OPRF, he decided to pursue football at the next level. Between 2003-2006, Sakellaris anchored the offensive line at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as a two-time All-American selection.

After a pair of solid 7-3 campaigns during his first two seasons, Sakellaris enjoyed consecutive trips with the Warhawks to the NCAA Division III championship game against Mount Union College. Unfortunately, the Warhawks lost both championship tilts.

"We lost twice so I guess we were kind of like the Buffalo Bills," Sakellaris said. "When I first got [at UW-W] we took some lumps but we went 42-6 overall when I played there. In Wisconsin, there are not Division II schools, so it was basically the University of Wisconsin and us which was kind of cool. We got a lot of publicity and the attention around our football program wasn't a normal Division III atmosphere."

UW-Whitewater and Mount Union would square off seven straight years in the Stagg Bowl national title game. Sakellaris' stellar play at offensive tackle with the Warhawks helped open a recruiting pipeline of sorts between OPRF and UW-Whitewater. Six other OPRF players Levell Coppage, Max Ford, Zach Howard, Ronnie Blaszkowski, Hans Goldenberg and Gabe Woullard have played for the Warhawks.

A similar football "buzz" surrounds the current state of the OPRF football program. Hoerster, with the aid of an excellent coaching staff including Sakellaris, has the Huskies' football program headed in a positive direction. From Sakellaris' perspective, the Huskies' bandwagon is just starting to get on a roll even if momentum is a bit overdue.

"John has created a different atmosphere that had been lacking at OPRF for a long time," he said. "Football is very important [now] and we're getting a high number of players which we didn't get in the past. We actually don't have enough uniforms and jerseys [now] for all the kids which is great. It shows how many kids are coming out for football, and that's half the battle."

In addition to working as an assistant coach on the football team, Sakellaris will coach basketball and teach physical education at OPRF.

Of course, Sakellaris' primary responsibilities revolve around taking care of his wife Kara and their 11-month-old son, Tyler.

"Sometimes it's hard to balance everything but its great being a dad," he said. "My wife is very loving and understanding. I couldn't do any of this without her support.

"My entire family has always been involved with OPRF. We just kind of bleed orange and blue. My son and [future] kids will go there because there's no place we would rather be than OPRF."

To read the entire story click here