Although Michelle Sikes the athlete has been deemed by at least one observer as, “the greatest female distance runner in LHS History,” a more personal description of Michelle Sikes the individual might be the description of her “beautiful warm personality, gentle and humble spirit and passion for what she does,” by another. Michelle has made an impact not only for what she has done but who she is.

She was the kid who didn’t start running until she joined the track team during eighth grade, but upon arriving at LHS qualified for the State Cross Country meet four years in a row. During those four years, her star continued to rise as just a few of her stats indicate. She was OHSAA 3200 meter State Champion in 2000, OHSAA Div. 1 Cross Country Champion (17:48) in 2001 and OHSAA Div. 1 3200 meter State Champion (10:49) in 2002. As a Ranger, Michelle earned All-American honors in outdoor and indoor track and cross country, as well as eight varsity letters between cross country and track.

Michelle was an LHS academic star as well. Senior year found her ranked third in her class with National Merit Commended Scholar status. Michelle was an involved student and found time to serve as an officer with the National Honor Society, and Latin Club as well as play with the chamber orchestra. She was a very active member of LHS’s American Youth Foundation (AYF) group. Not only did she organize talent shows, leadership conferences and cleanup efforts, she found time during the summer, as many Lakewood Students do, to spend at Camp Miniwanca.

After graduation, Michelle chose to continue her education at Wake Forest University where she became one of the most decorated student-athletes in Wake Forest history. Michelle won the NCAA Outdoor Division I National Championship in the 5,000 meters in 2007 with a meet and school record of 15:16.76, becoming the first female student-athlete from Wake Forest to win an NCAA individual track championship. She was the ACC indoor 5,000 meters champion in 2007 and won the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters in 2007. Michelle was a five-time All-American and an eight-time All-ACC honoree, earning all-league honors three times in cross country, three times in outdoor track and twice in indoor track. She was named the 2007 Division I Outdoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete of the Year.

To this day, Michelle continues to hold school records in the 1,500 meters, mile, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. She was the ACC Performer of the Year at the 2007 outdoor championships and a four-time All-ACC Academic honoree. Michelle was named 2006-07 Wake Forest’s female student-athlete of the year. She earned the Edwin G. Wilson Scholar-Athlete of the Year award from Wake Forest in 2007 and was the recipient of the ACC Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics that same year. After graduation, Michelle represented the U.S. in the 5000 meters at the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. In 2008, she was an Olympic Trials qualifier for the 5000 meter race and was honored as the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission's Collegiate Athlete of the Year.

Michelle began studies in 2008 as a Rhodes Scholar, becoming just the third student-athlete in Wake Forest history to earn the award. In 2015, Michelle earned her Ph.D. in Economics and Social History from the University of Oxford. Her dissertation was a history of women’s distance running in Kenya. Dr. Michelle Sikes taught at two universities in South Africa before going to Penn State University where she is currently an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & African Studies. Michelle was elected to the Wake Forest Athletic Hall of Fame in February 2018, in her first year of eligibility. Michelle wants everyone to know that despite her current situation amidst a legion of Nittany Lion fans, she remains a loyal Buckeye!

Jim Brinkman, Commander, USN (ret.) graduated from Lakewood High School in 1976 with a 4.0+ GPA, a member of the National Honor Society, a choir member, captain of the swim team in his senior year and, as mentioned, record holder of the JV Swim Team 500 freestyle race, a record still unbroken.

Jim attended the US Naval Academy, graduating in 1980 with a BS in Engineering. While at USNA, he continued to swim competitively, sing in the choir and maintain good grades. He was Co-Captain of the Water Polo Club his senior year, and coached the freshman /JV swim team and was selected the Brigade Intramural Sports Program Trophy winner for his class.

During his Naval career Jim served on five ships including Command of the USS Nicholson. He served on several seagoing staffs including Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 8 during Desert Shield and as Chief Staff Officer in Destroyer Squadron 32. He served in the Pentagon on the Navy Staff and as the Senior Naval Aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. His final tour on active duty was as Director, Plans and Exercises Division, Commander US Coast Guard, Atlantic Area. He helped lead the Coast Guard through maritime response and security after the events of 9-11. He deployed over 6 times, to the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Red Sea. One of the benefits of these deployments was getting to see so many of the things, places and sights Mr. Cellini had promised students they would see in AP World History! He received the Meritorious Service Medal four times and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, among others.

After retirement Jim went to work for Battelle, headquartered in Columbus, OH. He worked as project manager on numerous government contracts, became the office manager and then Senior Market Manager, Maritime Market Sector. He was Volunteer of the Year for 2007.

Jim always made time to give back to the community as President of his local civic league, and as President of the Virginia Masters Swim Team for 4 years. For over 20 years he has been coaching Special Olympics swimming. In 2003, he was Virginia’s Coach of the Year and that same year he was selected Head Swim Coach for Team USA when they went to the Special Olympics Summer Games in Ireland and then was Asst. Head Coach when they went to China in 2007. He continued as the Head Swim Coach for the Special Olympic National Games in 2006 and 2010.

Jim Brinkman and his wife Mary live in Virginia Beach, VA.