Rick Sanders (wrestler)

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] In 1987, Sanders was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[2]

Rick Sanders
Sanders (top) at the 1972 Olympics
BornJanuary 20, 1945 (1945-01-20)
Lakeview, Oregon, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1972(1972-10-18) (aged 27)
Skopje, Yugoslavia
High schoolLincoln (OR)
State championships3 (Oregon)
CollegePortland State
NCAA championships5 (4 individual, 1 team)
Olympic teamUnited States
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City 52 kg
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich 57 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1969 Mar del Plata 52 kg
Silver medal – second place 1967 New Delhi 52 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Toledo 52 kg
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1967 Winnipeg 57 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing Portland State
NAIA Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place1965 Terre Haute115 lb
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place1966 Ames115 lb
Gold medal – first place1967 Kent115 lb
Silver medal – second place1968 State College 123 lb
NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Bronze medal – third place1966 Mankato123 lb
Gold medal – first place1967 Wilkes-Barre115 lb
Gold medal – first place1968 Mankato123 lb

Wrestling

High school

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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]

Sanders is buried in Forrester Cemetery in Eagle Creek, Oregon.

References

  1. "Oregon Olympic wrestler dies". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. October 20, 1972. p. 11.
  2. Richard Sanders. nwhof.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  3. "Rick Sanders – Wrestling". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
  4. "Richard 'Rick' Sanders – Wrestling 1965–68". Portland State University. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  5. Gable, Dan (2015). A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable. University of Iowa Press. p. 64. ISBN 9781609383404.
  6. Rich Sanders. sports-reference.com
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