Wyandot Sports Hall of Fame

A 1972 graduate of Riverdale High School, Lauck was a record-setting and state champion high jumper, also played football and went on to be a longtime track and field coach.

Lauck set the Riverdale school record and the AA state meet record in the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 7 3/4 inches while winning the school’s first individual track and field title in 1972. He was the last state champion to use the western roll technique and set the highest mark ever across any division with that technique. At just 5-foot-7 tall, Lauck was in an elite category of jumpers to be able to clear more than a foot over their height.

His Riverdale accomplishments also included qualifying for state and placing fifth as a junior, setting the Hardin County and North Central Conference records at 6-5. He continued his success after graduating, finishing second in the Junior Nationals in Bowling Green in 1972 and clearing 6-10 to take second place. That qualified for the Junior Olympic trials in Lakewood, Colorado, and cleared 6-8 to take ninth place.

Lauck was a four-year letter winner in track and field for the Falcons and earned numerous all-county and all-conference honors. He finished his high school career with a best jump of 6-11 3/4 and 12 full-ride scholarship offers. He also participated in football for four years.

In 1993, Lauck returned to the Riverdale track and field program as junior high girls coach and later became high school head coach. He coached for 16 years and then spent another four years coaching cross country. Since then, he has been a volunteer working with junior high and high school high jumpers, spending a total of 30 years in coaching.

Lauck and his wife, Patti, have been married for 44 years and have three daughters and six grandchildren. Two of his daughters followed his lead and spent a combined 35 years coaching the Riverdale track and field and cross country programs. Five of his children have competed for the Falcons in track and field.