Grinnell College Athletics

A natural leader who had the ability to bring out the best qualities in his teammates, Don Kraitsik was a superb wrestler and standout football player. He became a three-sport athlete his senior year when he lettered in track, competing in the high jump.
 
Captain of the wrestling team his junior and senior seasons, Kraitsik was exceedingly quick and could tempt opponents with what seemed to be a free leg, but, poof, it was gone, and he was able to overpower opponents who were now off balance. That move and many others propelled him to win the 167-pound weight class at the 1967 Midwest Conference championship. He finished in the top three at the conference meet the next two seasons as well.
 
By the late 1960s, the two-way player was being phased out in college football. That trend did not deter Kraitsik, as he excelled playing defense, offense, and special teams. In fact, his kick return average of 35.4 yards is still the highest in school history. He was a first-team all-conference football selection in 1968. Kraitsik also won the David Theophilus '51 Award for outstanding athlete in more than one sport as well as the Charles Walker '56 Wrestler of the Year award, and was co-captain of the football team his senior year.
 
Through a unique arrangement, Kraitsik spent a fifth year at Grinnell serving as an assistant football and wrestling coach while completing the prerequisite requirements for admission to medical school. Kraitsik's medical career has been devoted to the health and welfare of Native Americans. He practices medicine at the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in Arizona and the Gallup Indian Medical Center in New Mexico.