One day, after getting into a fight at school, Michael found himself in the assistant principal’s office and in front of Mr. Poole, who thought it would be a good idea to invite Michael to join the wrestling team. Michael told the coach that they needed to ask his grandmother, Madelyn Moss, for permission. So, after school, Mr. Poole took Michael home, and when he asked his grandmother, she said yes. That marked the beginning of Michael’s wrestling journey.                                                                                        

That same year, Michael competed in the 75-pound weight class, placing third in both the District and County Tournament. In 1976, he moved up to the 85-pound weight class and placed second in the District and County Tournament. The following school year in 1977, school boundaries changed and Michael then transferred to Southwood Junior High School. Wrestling in the 105-pound weight class, he went undefeated, becoming both the District and County Champion.                                                                                                      

Michael went on to wrestle for Miami Palmetto Sr. High School during the 1977-1978 season, in his 10th-grade year at the 98-pound weight class. However, during the Christmas break, Michael’s grandmother fell ill, and he had to stop wrestling to take care of her.            

 The next wrestling season, his 11th-grade year, 1978-1979, Michael returned to the Miami Palmetto Wrestling Team with determination. He became the District Champion, Regional runner-up, and State Champion in the 105-pound weight class, finishing the season with a record of 25-3. In his senior year, 1979-1980, Michael was again the district champion and regional runner-up and placed third in the state at the 112-pound weight class.                                                                                                                                                        

 In 1984, Michael transitioned to coaching, starting as an assistant coach to David Flowers at Miami Palmetto Sr. High School until 1987. He continued coaching there with David Soderholm (Class of 2009) until 1998. Additionally, while coaching at Miami Palmetto Sr. High School in 1987, Michael also began coaching at Palmetto Jr. High School as head coach alongside Bob Mack. During his time as a coach at Miami Palmetto Sr. High School they went on to win the state championship as a team in 1996 with numerous district, regional, and state champions. Palmetto Jr. High School also saw great success, winning Districts seven times and the County Championship four times as a team.                                                                                                                                                       

In 1998-1999, Michael joined the Miami Southridge Wrestling Team as an assistant coach to coaches Jim Husk (Class of 2000) and Kenny Johnson (Class of 2013). That season the team went 21-0, winning every tournament and becoming state champions for two consecutive seasons, 1998-99 and 1999-00. The team placed second in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Michael continued to coach at Southridge until 2003, during which time the wrestlers achieved numerous district, regional, and state champions and placements.                                                                                                                    

 In 2003, Michael joined the Coral Reef Sr. High School Wrestling Team with Coach C. J. Singleton and coached there until 2006. The teams had several district and regional champions, along with a third and fourth place at the state tournament.                                 

In 2006-2007, Michael returned to Miami Southridge Sr. High School as an assistant coach to head Coach Kenny Johnson until 2017. Miami Southridge saw significant success during this period, with multiple district, regional, and state champions, and the team was the state runner-up in 2015-2016.  

Anthony Fadelle became head wrestling coach at Miami Palmetto Sr. High School for the 2017-2018 season. Coach Fadelle invited Michael to join him as an assistant coach at their alma mater, where they been coaching together ever since. Michael has been given a wonderful opportunity to coach alongside Coach Fadelle, a great young man and role model. Michael feels that wrestling has been a blessing in his life. It has taught him routine, discipline, dedication, and a relentless, no-quit attitude—what many may call "having that dog in you!" These core values have shaped his life and his coaching philosophy. Every day that Michael coaches, he tries to do his best to instill these values in the wrestlers, giving them a fighting chance and a solid foundation that they can use in wrestling and in life.                                                                                                                             

One of Michael’s most cherished memories that he says he remembers like if it was yesterday, was watching his son, Michael Graham Jr., become a State Champion for Miami Southbridge Sr. High School for the 2000-2001 season and becoming the second father-son duo to be state champions for Florida.                                                                                 

Michael’s family is very important to him.  His wife of 42 years, Mercy Graham, has stood by him throughout all these wrestling years. His children, Michael Graham Jr., Nicole Graham, Merlene Graham, and Michele Graham, all have his thanks for what they have added to his life.