Mike Sakellis ’95 Joins ‘Best Ever’ Debate; Boosts Chris O’Dell ’95

Only 7 months late, Mike Sakellis ’95 checked out StaplesSoccer.com’s “50 Years of Staples Soccer’s Greatest Hits” web page — and adds his own 2 cents.

He disagrees with the votes for Brooks Jessup ’95 as “Best Defender” — and, he points out, “I like the kid.” Mike says:  “Chris O’Dell ’95 without a doubt. He directed the guys on the wing, and if they got beat he was sure to clear it.”

Mike goes on to nominate himself for “Player You’d Most Want as a Teammate.”  As a senior, he says, “I squashed hazing. I wouldn’t allow it, even though O’Dell said I was too soft (because 2 years before he was a favorite target). Senior year I even kept the football guys away. I was close with the football team.”

Mike also cites his team-bonding efforts “packing up the sophomores  (Chris Mitchell, Ed Spooner and Wes Martino) in my Jeep and taking them to all the senior parties.”  There is more to that story, perhaps, but this is a family website.

Mike sends best wishes to the current team. His former teammate and still wingman Chris O’Dell alerts him to big games, and Mike — who now works in commercial real estate with First Service Williams in New York — is there cheering the Wreckers on.

“I look back with many happy memories,” he says. “I wish I had more pictures to look back on.”

Tags: Chris O'Dell, Mike Sakellis, Staples soccer 50 years