Mikkel Brown (’97)
Mikkel Brown was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Glen Rock High School, being a First Team, All Group, All-State receiver and being the Group 1, State Champion in the long jump and the All Group, Bergen County Champion in the triple jump. He still holds the school records in both of those events.
With 4.4 speed in the 40 yard dash and great hands, Mikkel Brown was one of Glen Rock High School’s most impactful football players.
Mikkel Brown transferred to Glen Rock in December of his sophomore year and played football as a junior and senior.
As a junior, Mikkel was the leading receiver (and also starting defensive back) on the 1995 football team that had an undefeated 9-0 regular season record and won the B-PSL Carpenter League Championship. In the subsequent Group 2, Sectional Playoffs, the team defeated Westwood by a score of 27-0 before losing to (the ultimate Sectional Champion) Ridgefield Park by the margin of a field goal,16-13, in the Sectional Semifinal. During that 10-1 season, Mikkel scored 6 touchdowns on pass receptions and an additional 4 touchdowns on punt returns. He was named to the Second Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record).
As a senior, Mikkel helped lead the 1996 football team to one of the school’s most successful seasons. Once again, the Panthers were undefeated in regular season play (9-0) and were B-PSL Carpenter League Champions. In the Group 1, Sectional Playoffs, they defeated Becton by a score of 69-13 and then shutout Secaucus by a score of 21-0 in the rain and on a mud soaked home field to win the Sectional Championship.
With an 11-0 record, the 1996 football team was the first team since the 1960 team to end its season undefeated. It averaged 38.18 points per game while allowing only 5.82 points per game for an average margin of victory of 28.09 points per game – all of these are among the best in school history.
Mikkel ended the season having scored over 20 touchdowns during the season, with most of them coming from receptions (having averaged over 25 yards per reception) but having also scored on rushes, fumble recoveries and interceptions. Mikkel was named to the First Team, All-Group, All-State and to the First Team, All-County.
Mikkel graduated from Glen Rock with the then-school records in receiving.
In 2000, Mikkel received Honorable Mention for the Bergen County, All-Century football
As a member of three outstanding track & field teams, Mikkel set then-school records in the 100 meters (10.8) and 200 meters dashes, in the triple jump (45’ 9.5”), and in the long jump (23’ 9”). His long jump and triple jump records still stand. He was also a member of a 4×400 relay team that set the school record for that event (3:22.6) – a record that also still stands.
As a sophomore, Mikkel helped the 1995 Glen Rock Boys Track & Field Team win the school’s first Group, Bergen County Championship and its first Group, Sectional Championship. At the Group 1, Bergen County Championship meet, he finished first in the triple jump and finished second in the long jump; at the Group 1, Sectional Championship meet (where New Jersey did not include the triple jump), he finished first in the long jump and fifth in the 200 meters. Mikkel subsequently finished second in the triple jump at the Bergen County Meet of Champions and fifth in the long jump at the Group 1, State Championship.
As a junior, Mikkel competed in winter track & field and had significant success, being named to the Second Team, All-County in the triple jump and Third Team, All-County in the 55 meters dash. That spring, Mikkel helped the 1996 Glen Rock Boys Track & Field Team win a second consecutive Group, Bergen County Championship and second consecutive Group, Sectional Championship.
At the Group 2, Bergen County Championship meet, Mikkel won four golds, finishing first in both the long jump and the triple jump and finishing first in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters. He also won four golds at the Group 2, Sectional Championship meet: finishing first in the long jump, the 100 meters and the 200 meters, and being a member of the winning 1,600 meters relay team. Mikkel’s 10.8 time in the 100 meters and the relay team’s 3:22.6 time in the 1,600 broke the then-Sectional records (as well as the then-Glen Rock school records).
At the subsequent Bergen County Meet of Champions, Mikkel finished first in the triple jump. The Bergen Record subsequently named him to the First Team, Long Jump and to the First Team, Triple Jump. He also received Honorable Mention in the 100 meters.
At the subsequent Group 2, State Championship. Mikkel finished first in the long jump.
As a senior, after another very successful winter track & field season, Mikkel was named to the First Team, All-County in both the long jump and in the triple jump and to the Second Team, All-State in those same two events.
In the spring, Mikkel helped the 1997 Glen Rock Boys Track & Field Team win a third consecutive Group, Bergen County Championship and third consecutive Group, Sectional Championship. Displaying his incredible versatility, he also helped the intermediate relay and high hurdle relay teams finish first in the Bergen County relays.
At the Group 1, Bergen County Championship meet, Mikkel won four golds, finishing first in both the long jump and the triple jump and finishing first in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters. His 23’9” jump in the long jump was his personal best and the then fifth longest in Bergen County history. He also won four golds at the Group 1, Sectional Championship meet (where New Jersey still did not include the triple jump): finishing first in the long jump, the 100 meters and the 200 meters, and running the anchor leg of the winning 4×400 meters relay team.
At the subsequent Bergen County Meet of Champions, Mikkel repeated his prior year’s victory in the triple jump. The Bergen Record subsequently named him to the First Team, Long Jump and to the First Team, Triple Jump. He also received Honorable Mention in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters.
At the subsequent Group 1, State Championship. Mikkel finished first in the long jump..
At the subsequent New Jersey Meet of Champions, Mikkel finished third in the long jump.
Mikkel continued his football career at the University of Iowa on a full scholarship and started as a defensive back.