Rick Wanamaker
Encyclopedia
Rick Wanamaker is an American track and basketball athlete, known principally for winning the decathlon
in the 1971 Pan American Games
and for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national basketball semi-finals.
Rick Wanamaker attended Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, where he played basketball
. He earned a scholarship and attended Drake University
in Des Moines, Iowa
, where he studied advertising
. As a freshman, he wanted to participate in the Drake Relays
, and chose the decathlon
.
Rick was the 1970 NCAA national champion and an All-American in decathlon
, the 1971 AAU National Champion in decathlon, with a score of 7989,
Rick Wanamaker was the 1971 gold medalist in decathlon
at the Pan American Games
with a score of 7648.
Rick is one of the tallest successful decathletes, at 6'-8", 210 lbs in 1971.
that finished third in the 1969 NCAA basketball tournament
. He is best known for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national semi-finals in Louisville.
in Des Moines.
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
in the 1971 Pan American Games
1971 Pan American Games
The 6th Pan American Games were held in Cali, Colombia, from July 30 to August 13, 1971. The then called "Salsa World Capital", located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, hosted a total of 2,935 athletes from 32 countries, who participated in seventeen sports...
and for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national basketball semi-finals.
Rick Wanamaker attended Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, where he played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. He earned a scholarship and attended Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, where he studied advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. As a freshman, he wanted to participate in the Drake Relays
Drake Relays
The Drake Relays is an annual outdoor track and field event held in Des Moines, Iowa, United States, in Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University...
, and chose the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
.
Track and field
Rick Wanamaker was a top ten U.S. decathlete from 1970 to 1974.Rick was the 1970 NCAA national champion and an All-American in decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, the 1971 AAU National Champion in decathlon, with a score of 7989,
Rick Wanamaker was the 1971 gold medalist in decathlon
Athletics at the 1971 Pan American Games
The athletics competition at the 1971 Pan American Games was held in Cali, Colombia.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
with a score of 7648.
Rick is one of the tallest successful decathletes, at 6'-8", 210 lbs in 1971.
Basketball
Rick was a member of the Drake Bulldog basketball team1968-69 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team
The 1968–69 Drake Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Drake University in the 1968–69 college basketball season. The team was led by eleventh-year head coach Maury John. In 1967–68, the Bulldogs finished 18–8...
that finished third in the 1969 NCAA basketball tournament
1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1969, and ended with the championship game on March 22 in Louisville, Kentucky...
. He is best known for blocking a shot against Lew Alcindor in the 1969 NCAA national semi-finals in Louisville.
Personal life
Rick and his wife Marcia maintain successful careers as real estate agentsReal estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
in Des Moines.