Jerry Swope
Jerry began wrestling in the 1959-60 season as a sophomore on a talent laden team at Lock Haven High School. As a “farm kid,” he could not participate until that year, and he only had 2 varsity matches. But after that, what a career - Jerry lost only 1 match during his entire junior and senior years, and won the PIAA State Championship both years, 1961 & 1962. His career record at Lock Haven High was 44-2. During Jerry’s junior year at Lock Haven High, Class of 2022 Inductee, Joe Hammaker was an assistant coach who wrestled with Jerry after every regular practice, contributing greatly to Jerry’s growth as a wrestler.
Jerry attended Lock Haven State College and had a remarkable career. In the incredibly wrestling rich Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Jerry won 3 conference titles. He won 4 NAIA championships and outstanding wrestler award in 1966. He was a 3X NCAA Division 1 All-American. placing 3rd, 5th and 3rd in 1964, '65, and '66. Jerry amassed 100 wins during his LHSC career, the first Bald Eagle grappler to achieve that feat.
After graduating from LHSC in 1966, Jerry coached at Warrior Run and Shamokin High Schools before being named head coach at Millersville State College in 1970. He led Millersville for 15 seasons, building the Marauders into a national contender and one of the most consistent programs in Division III. He transitioned the program to Division 1 in his final three years. His teams posted a 133-83-3 dual record including a 104-35-2 record from 1970-79. His 1977-78 team was the NCAA Division III runner-up, after placing third place at the in 1976-77. Jerry coached 5 Marauders to individual Division III titles and 7 won PSAC Championships. Of the 25 Millersville wrestlers that garnered All-America honors, 22 were coached by Jerry.
The program’s all-time win leader, Randy March, wrestled for Jerry. He also coached Millersville Athletic Hall of Fame members Andy Zook, Francis Presley and Michael Panarella. Zook won 3 PSAC titles and a national title. Presley was a back-to-back national champion in 1977 and 1978. Don Wagner, Henry Callie and Eric Guyll also were crowned national champions. Jerry retired from coaching after breaking his neck, but continued to serve as a professor of health and physical education at Millersville University until 2002.
Jerry has been inducted into numerous wrestling Halls of Fame: Lock Haven University, Millersville University Athletic, PIAA District 6, NAIA, and the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Jerry continues to contribute to wrestling with his creation of the Todd J. Swope Memorial Scholarship at Lock Haven University. Jerry and his wife Darla still live in Lock Haven and he can be found mat side at all home Lock Haven University meets, or at Penn State home events.
Awards:
Year
2022
|
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
|
Chapter/Region
Pennsylvania
|
All American Awards:
Season
1966
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
177
|
Place
3
|
Season
1965
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
177
|
Place
5
|
Season
1964
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
177
|
Place
3
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1984
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
16
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
20
|
Season
1983
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
20
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
14
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
30
|
Season
1982
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
12
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
42.86
|
Season
1981
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
58.82
|
Season
1980
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
16
|
Wins
13
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
81.25
|
Season
1979
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
71.43
|
Season
1978
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
63.64
|
Season
1977
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
92.31
|
Season
1976
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
1975
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
69.23
|
Season
1974
|
School
Millersville
|
Division
Division III
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
15
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
1973
|
School
Millersville
|
Division |
Duals
14
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
78.57
|
Season
1972
|
School
Millersville
|
Division |
Duals
12
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1971
|
School
Millersville
|
Division |
Duals
18
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
8
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
219
|
Wins
133
|
Losses
83
|
Ties
3
|
Win PCT.
60.73
|