A former wrestler and track and field athlete at Judson, Bob Pleticha is primarily being honored for the contribution he has made in the Elgin community and the sport of weightlifting. Pleticha graduated from Judson in 1972 after participating in one year of wrestling and two years of track and field. He participated in discus, long jump and the one-mile relay. In wrestling he had the most season pins with seven and 11 fastest pins. Pleticha went on to win the International Powerlifting Association World Championship four times and was a national champion 15 times. In 1980 he created the Elgin Sharks Track Club in Elgin with the goal of instilling healthy habits as well as maintaining good health through running. During an average year, over 100 young athletes run with the Sharks which translates to over 3,000 athletes since 1980. Many of these young athletes come from underprivileged backgrounds. The Elgin Sharks Track Club has generated local, state and national championships and athletes have gone on to be members of national teams and become collegiate athletes. November 18, 2015, was proclaimed Bob Pleticha Day by the mayor of the City of Elgin in honor of his dedication to the health and fitness of Elgin's young people as well as his championships in powerlifting.
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