Kingsford’s Michael Floriano, left center, smiles after winning the 100-meter dash at the Division 1 U.P. Finals track meet at Kingsford High School on June 1. (Sean Chase/IMDN file photo)

KINGSFORD — Coming off his junior track season when he won the U.P. Division 1 100-meter championship and ran a leg in the champion 800-relay team, plus running personal records in all his races at the premier U.P. track and field event, Kingsford’s Michael Floriano began to reach out to NCAA Division 2 schools to see if they were interested in him running for them.

At this point, Floriano had heard from Division 3 universities, like the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, St. Norbert College, the University of Olivet and Concordia University Chicago.

Nevertheless, he sought more. And the seven-time U.P. champion sprinter began to wonder why he hadn’t heard from any D2 schools.

“I reached out to (Michigan) Tech and I got nothing back,” Floriano said. “I reached out to Grand Valley (State) and they were like, ‘No, your times aren’t good enough.’

“And I was like, I get nine track meets a year if I’m lucky (because of weather issues), of course, my times aren’t good enough.”

With that competitive and prideful approach, Floriano kept trying.

And before long, he hit when he sent an email to Ferris State University sprint coach Justin Jackson.

“I sent him an email and I’m like, ‘Hi Coach, I’m from the U.P. I don’t get a lot of chances to run, these are my times. I can send you my videos and if you like what you see, I would love to have a conversation.’

“And he was like, ‘Dude, your times are solid. We’ll get you down here for a visit.”

The visit went well, the communication with Jackson continued and Floriano ended up with his D2 scholarship to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school.

Floriano recently sat down at Kingsford High School where he told that story and more.

Q: Where were you born and raised?

A: I was born in Mount Pleasant and moved up here to start kindergarten.

Q: What are your parents names?

A: Kelly and Mike. And I have a sister Abby (16 years old) and a brother Andrew (11). My grandfather’s name was Mike, too. I’m the third.

Q: And will there be a fourth Michael?

A: My dad said that he doesn’t really want that, but I’ve always said that it will be my kid.

It would be kind of cool to keep that going.

Q: You also played football. Did you have a football idol when you were growing up?

A: Ever since I knew that I wanted to play football, like in kindergarten I knew I wanted to play football. And I was a Packer fan, and I always watched Jordy Nelson. I just wanted to be like Jordy. I still have posters in my room.

Q: In what sense did you want to be like him?

A: Just athletic. And I loved that everyone else had (jersey numbers) like 14, 12 and 6 and he was 87. I just loved that number, 87.

Q: Were you able to compete with the upperclassmen on the track team as a freshman?

A: I’ve always been the fastest in my class, but I didn’t think that was going to translate into high school track. And then at my first meet, it was just us and Menominee, and I’m lining up in the blocks and I see (upperclassmen and former sprint standouts) Brody Kopp, Michael Meneguzzo, Chris Carollo and Cole Myllyla. And I had never raced them before.

I remember shaking in the blocks and I’m thinking, “Why did the coach put me in this race?” But I beat them all and I was like, “Holy crap.”

Q: You often start slower than some of your opponents but then catch up and kick into gear around the midway point. Has that always been the case?

A: Yeah, that’s the way it’s always been. I hope Ferris can kind of whip me into shape there.

Q: Were you ever behind the whole field coming out of the blocks?

A: There’s been a couple of times when I started out of the blocks and I could see everyone in front of me. But it’s just always been my top-end speed that’s been the difference.

Q: That was the case pretty often when you ran against Iron Mountain champion sprinter Matthew Colavecchi. What was your relationship like?

A: I love Colavecchi. He is a kid that I’ve known since middle school, seeing him at basketball games, Pop Warner (football) and stuff like that. So, we’ve always been in competition.

And then I had the honor of getting to know his cousin Joey. And for the first three years (of my career), I was able to take care of both of them. But this year, it got close (with Matthew).

Q: He was able to beat you this year officially (the race was timed with stopwatches not electronically). How did you feel afterwards?

A: We were talking afterwards and he was like, “Bro, there’s no way they can tell who won with a stopwatch.” So, my dad, he takes videos of all my races, so in one angle it looks like I get my arm across and then in the next frame, you can’t tell.

But it didn’t really matter to us, we were both happy we ran such good times.

Q: One of the most important techniques in the sprints is to come out of the blocks low and not stand up too fast. Has that been a problem for you?

A: Yes. What I’ll do, which sucks, is I’ll get inside the fieldhouse here, we have a little turf area, and I’ll hang poles from the ceiling so if I come out the blocks and stand up, I’ll hit my head. And that’s helped me to stay low.

Q: Have you hit your head?

A: Yes, plenty of times.

Q: Did you accomplish what you wanted to in high school track?

A: Honestly, no. I wanted to get our school records in the 100 and the 200. Trevor Roberts has both of them.

Q: How would you describe your personality?

A: I’ve always been told that I talk too much. I do talk a lot.

Q: Any other trait?

A: I’m super competitive. I’m so overly competitive, I almost broke my hand playing Pictionary.

Q: Are you a coffee drinker?

A: Not really. Before every track meet, I eat my usual (sub sandwich), bag of chips and drink my Gatorade. The only time I’ll drink coffee is if it’s the foo-foo coffees.

Q: Can you cook?

A: Oh yeah. I can cook burgers and I’ve done steak before. When I was little, I used to watch the cooking shows and the baking shows and I was like, “I want to do that.” But realistically, I don’t want to do that.

Q: What academic interest do you have?

A: I am going to go into business. Maybe with a double major in marketing.

Q: Do you like history?

A: Yeah, I’m a history nerd. Ever since I was little, my mom would ask me where my dream vacation would be. I always said I wanted to go to Britain, see the UK. And then maybe cross over into France. I’ve never once thought history was boring.