Buck Deadrich was a seven-time national champion in wrestling (five in freestyle, two in Greco-Roman) and in International Championship competition won two silver and three bronze medals, placing sixth at the 1969 World Championships. In high school he won 10 letters in football, wrestling, and track. He later attended Chabot College where he won two Golden Gate Conference titles in wrestling and served as student body president in 1965. He was elected to the Chabot Hall of Fame in 2000. Deadrich completed his college career at Southern Illinois University, earning Academic All-American honors both his years there. He is a member of several Halls of Fame, including those at Chabot College, at Southern Illinois University, the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and both the National and International Freestyle Halls of Fame.