Biography

Wotruba lettered for three years in track under the late and legendary Bart Sullivan at Holy Cross and graduated with the school record for most points compiled by an individual in a dual meet, 29. He was unbeaten for three years in dual meet pole vault competition and was never shut out in any event he entered in three years.

Wotruba's best year at Holy Cross may have been 1958 when, as a sophomore, he won the New England AAU and Collegiate pole vault, won the New England Olympic pentathlon and was fifth in the National AAU decathlon. In addition he entered nine events in the 1958 Eastern Track Championships, all in one day, placed in each event, won the pole vault and high jump and ran on the winning mile relay team.

Wotruba was fourth in the 1959 National AAU decathlon (the highest collegian, though) and ranked 14th in the world in the grueling event. Also, in 1959, he was a member of the U.S. Pan American Games decathlon team. Though he was injured most of the 1960 season, his senior year at Holy Cross, he finished ninth in the U.S. Olympic decathlon tryouts and was a guest of the U.S. team at the Rome Olympics.