FRANK
Mike Bergen had courage beyond mat.
Compliments of and as told by Frank Dimon, "On Wrestling" - The Sunbury Daily Item, March, 1999
Statistics tell us that one in every 3,300 children born this
year will be afflicted with cystic fibrosis, one of the most common fatal genetic disease
in the United States today.
The inherited killer, caused by a defective gene, produces abnormal
mucus in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts as well as sweat glands. The
disease is always fatal although those with milder forms of the disease can live into
their early 30's.
Last friday afternoon, my friend, former Milton wrestler Mike
Bergen, lost his overtime battle with cystic fibrosis. Just 27 years old, Mike, the
son of Pete and Karen Bergen, died in the intensive care unit at Williamsport
Hospital. He was laid to rest Tuesday.
In my Christmas Wish List column in December, I asked Santa to help
Mike overcome his health woes and bring him a Black Panther wrestling match soon. It
never happened.
I visited Mike at his parent's home on Christmas Eve. even
though he required oxygen through a mask that night, his smile was still evident. He
thanked me for mentioning him him in this column and then immediately launched into a
string of jokes. Mike loved to tell jokes.
I first met Mike when my son, Sean, began wrestling for the Milton
elementary team as a second grader 10 years ago. Milton elementary wrestling is in
the Bergen family. Pete has served as head coach for years and Karen still sells
shirts and hats to raise money for the program while keeping the referees in line from the
stands. Mike was an assistant coach and announcer at home matches while his younger
sister, Jaime, operated the time clock.
But Mike was about more than just wrestling.
In 1992, when the Milton little League started a pair of girls minor
league softball teams, I managed one of the teams. Mike, just 21 at the time,
volunteered to be my assistant with the Robins squad. his patience, knowledge of the
sport and rapport with the 8- and 9-year-old girls were essential elements to that
enjoyable season.
Mike coached with me again the following year, but midway through
the season i noticed a change in him. He had fallen in love. while he
continued to coach, his focus had shifted from the Robins to his new girlfriend, Lisa
Dunlap. They were married on June 25, 1994.
Mike was a showman, too. At the Milton Harvest festival 1993
he was the winner of the Male Beauty contest. His performance in the talent portion
--- a John Travolta-like dance to "I'm Every Woman" by Whitney Houston --- was a
show-stopper.
Cystic fibrosis jumped into the national spotlight in the early
1990's when Gunnar Esiason, the son of of the then Cincinnati Bengal's quarterback Boomer
Esiason, was diagnosed with the disease.
The defective CF gene was discovered in 1989. That discovery
has accelerated CF research; experimental gene therapy treatment is under way now as well
as drug therapy. still, no cure exists.
"When children have been chosen to go into battle at such an
early age, it is not because they ar
e being punished or cursed by God. It is because they are a gift; an
inspiration. They are here to challenge us to open our eyes to life's frailties, its
contingencies, and just how precious it is. they are here to teach us --- they are
our heroes."
Those are the words of Cheryl Esiason, talking about her son
Gunnar. Her words ring true with Mike Bergen as well.
Like any good wrestler, Mike fought the odds and battled until the
end. A doctor once predicted that Mike wouldn't live past the age of 10.
Instead, he gave us 17 extra years.
Thanks for that time, Mike. We'll miss you.
Frank Dimon's observations on wrestling appear weekly in the Sunbury Daily Item.