Congratulations to Dave Sykes, professor of physics, who is one of four being inducted into the Fort Atkinson High School-Wisconsin Wall of Fame during this Friday’s ceremony at PremierBank Gymnasium!
Sykes was a two-time Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Class A State high jump champion,clearing 6-feet, 9-inches his junior and senior years. He went on to earn a track and field scholarship to Drake University where he competed four years in both the high jump and triple jump. Sykes set a personal high jump mark of 7-2 1⁄4 — a Drake record he still shares with Paul Allard — but went as high as 7-3 after college while competing in open invitationals. Sykes was named Field Event Outstanding Athlete of the Year all four years at Drake, and qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships his senior year.
Sykes placed third in the prestigious International Prep Track and Field Invitational in Naperville, Ill., high jumping 6-10. He also ran cross country, and was named MVP after setting the school record. Read his interview with the Daily Union.