University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Michael W. Bilsza 1975 - Track and Field
One of the university's premier weight-events performers and a 1985 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Mike Bilsza established himself as a force in New England track and field circles during his collegiate career in the early to mid 1970s. When he graduated, he held four UVM records: the hammer throw, discus, shot put and 35-lb. weight toss.
During his sophomore year, Bilsza won the Yankee Conference shot put championship at Orono, Maine. In his career, he never lost a Vermont State Championship in the shot, discus, or hammer. When he graduated, his discus mark was 146'11", his shot put record (indoors) was 50'4", and his 35-lb. weight throw was 58'1".
Former track coach Bill Nedde and current coach Ed Kusiak trained Bilsza for the hammer, shot, and discus only because an elbow injury kept Bilsza out of his main event - the javelin. As a high school trackster, Bilsza was the Western Massachusetts champion in the javelin. That he became as accomplished as he did in his four events is a tribute to his athletic versatility.
Kusiak relates a story that illustrates Bilsza's integrity and sense of competition. In Bilsza's senior year of 1975, he was competing in the 35-lb. weight portion of the Yankee Conference Indoor Championships at the University of Rhode Island. His main competition was former Pittsburgh Steeler Steve Furness of URI, and on his last throw Mike heaved the weight past all the markers and appeared to have the event won. As the officials called for the measurement, however, Bilsza told them he had fouled, and Furness won the event.
