Richard Joseph "Rick" Sanders (January 20, 1945 – October 18, 1972) was an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler. He won gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games and 1969 World Championships, finishing second at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and 1967 World Championships. After the 1972 Olympics, while traveling to Greece, he was killed in a car accident in Skopje, Yugoslavia.[1]
Rick Sanders attended Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon. While there he wrestled at 98 pounds in 1961, 108 pounds in 1962 and 115 pounds in 1963. He won three Oregon State Championships, finishing with a high school record of 80–1.[2]
University
When Sanders arrived at Portland State University, he quickly led his team to national prominence. As a freshman, he highlighted an undefeated season by winning the 1965 NAIA National Championships at 115 pounds and earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award. As a sophomore Sanders lost the first match of his career when he moved up to the 123 pound class and placed third in the NCAA College Division Nationals. Two weeks later he dropped down to the 115 pound class and won the 1966 NCAA University Division National Championship. As a junior Sanders had a perfect season going undefeated and winning both the 1967 NCAA College and University Division National Championships at 115 pounds. He was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler in both meets. As a senior Sanders moved up to the 123 pound class and went undefeated during the regular season. He won his second NCAA College Division National Championship and was again selected as the Outstanding Wrestler. Two weeks later at the NCAA University Division Nationals, Sanders lost for only the second time in his collegiate career when he placed second. His total collegiate record was 103–2. He led his Portland State team to a first-place finish in the 1967 NCAA College Division Nationals, a second-place finish in 1968, and a third-place finish in 1967. The same three years Portland State also finished fifth, sixth, and eighth in the NCAA University Division Nationals. Sanders is the only collegiate wrestler to win National Championships in the NAIA, NCAA College Division, and the NCAA University Division, and be designated an Outstanding Wrestler in each.[3]
U.S. Team and Olympics
As early as his freshman year in college, in 1965, Sanders won his first of five national freestyle championships and made the U.S. World Team. In 1966 he placed third in the World Championships, in 1967 he placed second in the World, and won the Pan American Games. In 1968, Sanders won an Olympic silver medal. A year later, at 114.5 pounds, Sanders became the first American ever to win a World Championship.[4] He returned to the Olympics in 1972 and captured another silver medal. Of the eleven bouts he won in two Olympics, nine came by fall.[5]
Death
Following the Olympic Games in Munich, Sanders began touring Europe. While hitch-hiking to Greece, he was killed in an automobile accident on October 18, 1972 in Skopje, Yugoslavia when the Land Rover he was riding in crashed head-on into a bus.[1] He is buried in Forrester Cemetery, Eagle Creek, Oregon.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rick Sanders (wrestler).
^ ab"Oregon Olympic wrestler dies". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. October 20, 1972. p. 11.
^. Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
^"Richard 'Rick' Sanders – Wrestling 1965–68". Portland State University. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
^Gable, Dan (2015). A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable. University of Iowa Press. p. 64. ISBN9781609383404.
rick, sanders, wrestler, richard, joseph, rick, sanders, january, 1945, october, 1972, american, folkstyle, freestyle, wrestler, gold, medals, 1967, american, games, 1969, world, championships, finishing, second, 1968, 1972, olympics, 1967, world, championship. Richard Joseph Rick Sanders January 20 1945 October 18 1972 was an American folkstyle and freestyle wrestler He won gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games and 1969 World Championships finishing second at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and 1967 World Championships After the 1972 Olympics while traveling to Greece he was killed in a car accident in Skopje Yugoslavia 1 Rick SandersSanders top at the 1972 OlympicsBornJanuary 20 1945 1945 01 20 Lakeview Oregon U S DiedOctober 18 1972 1972 10 18 aged 27 Skopje YugoslaviaHigh schoolLincoln Portland Oregon State championships3 Oregon CollegePortland StateNCAA championships5 4 individual 1 team Olympic teamUnited StatesMedal record Men s Freestyle wrestlingRepresenting the United StatesOlympic Games1968 Mexico City 52 kg1972 Munich 57 kgWrestling World Championships1969 Mar del Plata 52 kg1967 New Delhi 52 kg1966 Toledo 52 kgPan American Games1967 Winnipeg 57 kg Contents 1 Wrestling 1 1 High school 1 2 University 1 3 U S Team and Olympics 2 Death 3 ReferencesWrestling EditHigh school Edit Rick Sanders attended Lincoln High School in Portland Oregon While there he wrestled at 98 pounds in 1961 108 pounds in 1962 and 115 pounds in 1963 He won three Oregon State Championships finishing with a high school record of 80 1 2 University Edit When Sanders arrived at Portland State University he quickly led his team to national prominence As a freshman he highlighted an undefeated season by winning the 1965 NAIA National Championships at 115 pounds and earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award As a sophomore Sanders lost the first match of his career when he moved up to the 123 pound class and placed third in the NCAA College Division Nationals Two weeks later he dropped down to the 115 pound class and won the 1966 NCAA University Division National Championship As a junior Sanders had a perfect season going undefeated and winning both the 1967 NCAA College and University Division National Championships at 115 pounds He was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler in both meets As a senior Sanders moved up to the 123 pound class and went undefeated during the regular season He won his second NCAA College Division National Championship and was again selected as the Outstanding Wrestler Two weeks later at the NCAA University Division Nationals Sanders lost for only the second time in his collegiate career when he placed second His total collegiate record was 103 2 He led his Portland State team to a first place finish in the 1967 NCAA College Division Nationals a second place finish in 1968 and a third place finish in 1967 The same three years Portland State also finished fifth sixth and eighth in the NCAA University Division Nationals Sanders is the only collegiate wrestler to win National Championships in the NAIA NCAA College Division and the NCAA University Division and be designated an Outstanding Wrestler in each 3 U S Team and Olympics Edit As early as his freshman year in college in 1965 Sanders won his first of five national freestyle championships and made the U S World Team In 1966 he placed third in the World Championships in 1967 he placed second in the World and won the Pan American Games In 1968 Sanders won an Olympic silver medal A year later at 114 5 pounds Sanders became the first American ever to win a World Championship 4 He returned to the Olympics in 1972 and captured another silver medal Of the eleven bouts he won in two Olympics nine came by fall 5 Death EditFollowing the Olympic Games in Munich Sanders began touring Europe While hitch hiking to Greece he was killed in an automobile accident on October 18 1972 in Skopje Yugoslavia when the Land Rover he was riding in crashed head on into a bus 1 He is buried in Forrester Cemetery Eagle Creek Oregon References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rick Sanders wrestler a b Oregon Olympic wrestler dies The Bulletin Bend Oregon October 20 1972 p 11 Rick Sanders Wrestling Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Archived from the original on October 21 2013 Richard Rick Sanders Wrestling 1965 68 Portland State University Retrieved September 14 2015 Gable Dan 2015 A Wrestling Life The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable University of Iowa Press p 64 ISBN 9781609383404 Rich Sanders sports reference com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rick Sanders wrestler amp oldid 1079315486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
