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

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