Rarely do two student athletes from the same school win the Northwest Herald Girls and Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. This year, the recipients came from the same house.
Yet amidst the immense success surrounding Johnsburg High School senior Mike Dixon and his sister, junior Melissa Dixon, they manage to stay grounded and focused. “My mom and dad taught us not to brag; you just have to appreciate what you have,” Mike explains.
His sister agrees. “Stay humble – that’s the way to go,” Melissa says, adding, “you could lose everything if you’re all over the place and have a big ego.”
As opposed to other teenagers with comparable accolades, Mike and Melissa refuse to consider themselves above their teammates, referring to themselves as taking “leadership roles” on and off the court. “Some people get jealous and envious,” Melissa remarks of her sharp shooting and skill, “but that just makes me stronger as a leader and makes me want to be a leader even more.”
Focus on Fun
Expectations surround Melissa, who handles the attention poised, like a professional, ensuring she doesn’t become overconfident. She doesn’t only talk the talk when it comes to making sure she doesn’t have a big head, a condition that, according to her, “leads to a poor image, and then being insecure about a lot of things.” Melissa isn’t the type to wake up the morning after a big game and expect to see her name in headlines.
“I hardly even read the paper,” she admits. “I don’t want to get sucked into all of that. I would honestly rather have fun with my team than pay attention to the media.”
Staying Grounded
Mike Dixon is a legend unto himself. A 50.5 percent shooter from the field, he averages 13.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He led Johnsburg High School to a 3A championship and a 27-3 season this year.
The acclaimed senior speaks highly of Johnsburg and Area All-Star game teammate C.J. Fiedorowicz (a three-sport varsity athlete), to him an example of how to handle the spotlight, a place Dixon has grown accustomed to.
“C.J. is very grounded; he is one of the best examples of getting publicity but not having a big head,” Mike said.
However, even if he didn’t have Fiedorowicz’s example, Mike would still be as assured as his sister in handling the spotlight; his sentiments regarding remaining grounded are remarkably similar to his sister’s.
After High School
One big difference between the siblings is Melissa’s goal of pursuing basketball at the university level compared to Mike’s decision of ending his basketball career due to a stress fracture in his right fibula.
The injury, constantly recurring, could have sidelined him from a lot of things in life, not only basketball. The decision for Mike was incredibly difficult: continue playing and risk pain for the rest of his life, or drop the curtain on a fantastic basketball career.
“I was dedicating my whole life to a sport,” he relayed. “All of a sudden during my senior year I was forced to make this decision. It was very hard to take, but it’s just one of those things you have to move on and put your ambitions into something else.”
This something else is a major in business at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a different path than the one expected for the athlete undoubtedly headed toward a Division I scholarship for basketball.
“I think my family, coaches and everyone respected me and my decision,” he remembers. “They always said, ‘you would be a great college player,’ but we support your answer no matter what.”
After five months of rest and rehabilitation and the realization that one slight fracture in his leg would result in surgery, Mike made the difficult, but “right” decision, he said. This resulted in leaving Melissa the sole Dixon moving toward Division I play.
Whether or not both members of the brother-sister power pair compete in college, their talent is indubitable. A talent, both agree, that wouldn’t be complete without the other sibling.
The two competed in Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) competitions and grew up playing on their home basketball court together.
“It was a real honor to get all of these awards, seeing all the hard work and dedication pay off,” Mike said, “and it was really cool having your best friend and your sister on the sidelines. I could not be more proud of her and her achievements. She’s not even close to being done yet.”
Melissa has already been offered scholarships from quite a few colleges. And she continues to make a name for herself through her senior year at Johnsburg High School.
Mike will commence his career as a university student as well as compete in intramural and pickup basketball games. Wherever they are, the Dixon siblings make a name for themselves, with a commendable work ethic, solid family foundation and remarkable humility.
