Hall of Fame induction: 2020
At Wilmington High, Ptak was state high jump champ in 1951 and 1952 and also added shot put and javelin titles in 1952. He also was New Castle County champion in all three and was Delaware’s state high-jump record-holder until 1968. Ptak then starred at La Salle University, where he placed second in the IC4A meet in the javelin in 1955, the highest finish to that point by a Delawarean in a meet begun in 1876.