Michael Leta was born in Newark, New Jersey and lived in Irvington until moving to North Plainfield during his eighth grade year in 1953. He attended North Plainfield High School from 1954-1958. There he went out for wrestling his freshman year where wrestling was a “new” sport and was coached by Marvin Blaustein and Dick Schneider. He wrestled all four years, winning the districts and placing 4th and 3rd respectively in states his junior and senior years, 1957 and 1958.

Mike entered Rutgers University in 1958 and wrestled on the freshman team coached by Dean Oliver, compiling a 6-1 record, placing 3rd in the Freshman Easterns (the Army Plebe Tournament). During his sophomore year in 1960 he was coached by Hall of Famer Dick Voliva, and was undefeated in dual meets, took 3rd in the Wilkes Tournament, 1st in E.I.W.A. Easterns, defeating Larry Lauchle of Pitt 14-13 in the finals. This match was later selected Match of the Century at the 2003 Eastern Champions Reunion Ceremony. Also in 1960, he attained All-American status by placing 3rd in the NCAA National Championships, losing to two-time National Champ Les Anderson of Iowa State. His junior year, Mike had a record of 11-1-1. His senior year, he achieved a record of 13-1-1 placing 4th in the EIWA championships.

Mike graduated from Rutgers in 1962 with a B.S. in education (History Major, Physical Education Minor). His first teaching job was at Hillside High School (1962-69), teaching History and also coaching football (Assistant), wrestling (Head), and tennis (Head). In 1969 he began a long career at Bridgewater-Raritan High School West. He was head coach of wrestling, soccer and lacrosse and an assistant coach in tennis, baseball and later wrestling after the merge of Bridgewater-Raritan West with Bridgewater-Raritan East. His combined coaching record in wrestling was 260-156-11. His high school teams were Conference Champions in 1980 and 1983, Central Jersey Group III Sectional Champs in 1981-1983, and district champs six times. In his high school career, he coached 50 district champs, 15 regional champs, 2 state champs and 6 state place winners. Also, as head soccer coach, Mike compiled over 300 wins (1975-95) during which his teams were conference champs 12 times and county champs 6 times.

Mike has served on numerous wrestling associations including the Region V Ranking Chairman, New Jersey State Ranking Chairman, Region V President, State Vice President, and State President in 1990-92. Mike has been honored by election into the North Plainfield Hall of Fame (2001), Region V Wrestling Hall of Fame (1990), Region V Wrestling Coach of the Year (1985) and the Home News Coach of the Year (1986).

Mike also returned to his alma mater North Plainfield High School to coach wrestling (1994-95) before accepting the assistant coach position at Rutgers University under head coach John Sacchi (1995-2005). During this time, the Rutgers Wrestling team achieved a record of 97-53-4.

Mike worked in his father’s supply business throughout high school and college and later ran the business with his brother Vincent from 1976-1981. Besides teaching, Mike was also camp administrator for the Hills Soccer Camp owned by Joe LaSpada for 15 years. He also ran his own East-West Wrestling Camp and tournament with George Reid at Bridgewater-Raritan High School from 1990-1995.

After retirement, Mike has been employed as facility manager at the Green Knoll Tennis Center in Bridgewater by the Somerset County Parks Commission from 1998 to present.