Harry Geris
Encyclopedia
Harry Geris was a Canadian
Olympic
wrestler who represented Canada in the 1968
, 1972
, and 1976 Olympics
, and the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
.
Geris was born in Deurne in the Netherlands
, and emigrated to Canada as a child. Geris grew up in London, Ontario
along with his eight siblings, Cathy, Dorthy, Jackie, Jane, Fred, Angel, Hank, and Billy.
Geris attended H.B. Beal Secondary School where he tried out for numerous sporting teams including basketball and football. Harry was a member of H.B. Beal's wrestling team, where he earned two O.F.S.S.A. gold medals http://www.ofsaa.on.ca/site/content/File/Wrestling_-_Boys_Past_Champions.pdf under the tutelage of wrestling coach Fred Flectcher. While at H.B. Beal Geris won his first of ten Canadian National Champions, which led him to representing Canada at three Olympic Games, 1968, 1972, and 1976.
His performance in High School athletics got the attention of the Head Coach of Joliet Junior College
wrestling program in Illinois, Henry Pillard. Coach Pillard recruited Geris to the Wolves wrestling squad and as a result Harry won the N.C.A.A. Junior College Wrestling Championship in 1968. His performance at the 1968 Junior College N.C.A.A. Championships earned Harry a scholarship to wrestle at perennial powerhouse Oklahoma State University where he earned All-American status placing 2nd at the Big 8 Tournament and 4th at the 1972 N.C.A.A. National Tournament.
He also represented Canada at the Pan-American Games, the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup, winning the bronze medal at all three events.
Harry's love for the sport of wrestling was passed on to his three sons, Jason, Shawn, and Ryan. They all attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School where they were members of the Laurier wrestling team. All three boys excelled in the sport and earned an impressive collection of accalades in their father's sport. Jason like his father attended Oklahoma State and eventually earned a wrestling scholarship to California's Fresno State University. Shawn attended Eastern Michigan University
. Both Jason and Shawn are Canadian National Champions in the sport of wrestling.
Harry Geris started a London wrestling club in the 80's called AWOLS (Amateur Wrestling of London South). He travelled the team around North America developing some of the best wrestlers in the country, and lead kids to obtain scholarships with wrestling. His team was large but he managed to be a part of every one of his wrestler's lives. He helped pay for the team by running bingo's and selling wrestling gear, and donated everything to help the team go to tournaments, and camps. The AWOL team was a multiple attendant of Lock Haven Wrestling Camp, one of the best camps in the US. Harry Geris had no troubles driving thousands of miles to go to a single tournament for his wrestlers. Geris was inducted into the U.S. National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in May 1984.
Geris remained involved in amateur wrestling until his death.
Geris was found dead by a construction worker at 7.30am on April 24, 2008, behind Saunders Secondary School
in London, Ontario
where he was delivering wrestling mats for an upcoming tournament. Police did not suspect foul play, but said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death. Geris was aged 60.
The Harry Geris Memorial Grappling Games were named in his honor, beginning in January 2009. The Harry Geris Memorial Grappling Games were the first in Canada to combine freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and FILA rules no-gi grappling.
1966 - Canadian Freestyle Champion,
Commonwealth Games (Jamaica) – 4th place,
World Championships (Toledo, Ohio)
1967 - Canadian Freestyle Championships – Silver medalist(213.5 lbs)
1968 - NCAA Champion- wrestled for Joliet Jr.College(Minnesota)
Canadian Freestyle Champion
1971 - United States Wrestling Federation – Silver medalist
1972 - N.C.A.A. Championships – 4th place(All American Status)wrestled for Oklahoma State,
National AAU/USA – Silver medalist,
Canadian Olympic Team (Munich, Germany) 230 lbs – 9th place
1973 - Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,
FISU Games (Moscow, Russia) – 4th place,
World Championships (Iran)
World Cup - Bronze medalist (Toledo, Ohio)
1974 - Eastern United States AAU Champion,
Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion
1975 - Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,
Pan American Games (Mexico) – 4th place Freestyle & Bronze medalist Greco Roman
1976 - Canadian Championships Freestyle Silver medalist & Greco Roman Champion,
Member of the Canadian Olympic Team
1980 - Inducted into the United States Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame
1984 - Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame
Oklahoma State University - Season Record for Harry Geris - 1972
Bouts:26
Wins:19
Loses:5
Ties:2
Falls:11
Win Pct:76.0%
Oklahoma State University - Dual Meet Record for Harry Geris - 1972
Bouts:14
Wins:10
Loses:2
Ties:2
Win Pct:78.6%
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
wrestler who represented Canada in the 1968
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, 1972
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, and 1976 Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, and the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
.
Geris was born in Deurne in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and emigrated to Canada as a child. Geris grew up in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
along with his eight siblings, Cathy, Dorthy, Jackie, Jane, Fred, Angel, Hank, and Billy.
Geris attended H.B. Beal Secondary School where he tried out for numerous sporting teams including basketball and football. Harry was a member of H.B. Beal's wrestling team, where he earned two O.F.S.S.A. gold medals http://www.ofsaa.on.ca/site/content/File/Wrestling_-_Boys_Past_Champions.pdf under the tutelage of wrestling coach Fred Flectcher. While at H.B. Beal Geris won his first of ten Canadian National Champions, which led him to representing Canada at three Olympic Games, 1968, 1972, and 1976.
His performance in High School athletics got the attention of the Head Coach of Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
wrestling program in Illinois, Henry Pillard. Coach Pillard recruited Geris to the Wolves wrestling squad and as a result Harry won the N.C.A.A. Junior College Wrestling Championship in 1968. His performance at the 1968 Junior College N.C.A.A. Championships earned Harry a scholarship to wrestle at perennial powerhouse Oklahoma State University where he earned All-American status placing 2nd at the Big 8 Tournament and 4th at the 1972 N.C.A.A. National Tournament.
He also represented Canada at the Pan-American Games, the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup, winning the bronze medal at all three events.
Harry's love for the sport of wrestling was passed on to his three sons, Jason, Shawn, and Ryan. They all attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School where they were members of the Laurier wrestling team. All three boys excelled in the sport and earned an impressive collection of accalades in their father's sport. Jason like his father attended Oklahoma State and eventually earned a wrestling scholarship to California's Fresno State University. Shawn attended Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
. Both Jason and Shawn are Canadian National Champions in the sport of wrestling.
Harry Geris started a London wrestling club in the 80's called AWOLS (Amateur Wrestling of London South). He travelled the team around North America developing some of the best wrestlers in the country, and lead kids to obtain scholarships with wrestling. His team was large but he managed to be a part of every one of his wrestler's lives. He helped pay for the team by running bingo's and selling wrestling gear, and donated everything to help the team go to tournaments, and camps. The AWOL team was a multiple attendant of Lock Haven Wrestling Camp, one of the best camps in the US. Harry Geris had no troubles driving thousands of miles to go to a single tournament for his wrestlers. Geris was inducted into the U.S. National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in May 1984.
Geris remained involved in amateur wrestling until his death.
Geris was found dead by a construction worker at 7.30am on April 24, 2008, behind Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb of London, Ontario, Canada. It is named after William Saunders and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture and horticulture. Grades offered are...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
where he was delivering wrestling mats for an upcoming tournament. Police did not suspect foul play, but said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death. Geris was aged 60.
The Harry Geris Memorial Grappling Games were named in his honor, beginning in January 2009. The Harry Geris Memorial Grappling Games were the first in Canada to combine freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and FILA rules no-gi grappling.
1966 - Canadian Freestyle Champion,
Commonwealth Games (Jamaica) – 4th place,
World Championships (Toledo, Ohio)
1967 - Canadian Freestyle Championships – Silver medalist(213.5 lbs)
1968 - NCAA Champion- wrestled for Joliet Jr.College(Minnesota)
Canadian Freestyle Champion
1971 - United States Wrestling Federation – Silver medalist
1972 - N.C.A.A. Championships – 4th place(All American Status)wrestled for Oklahoma State,
National AAU/USA – Silver medalist,
Canadian Olympic Team (Munich, Germany) 230 lbs – 9th place
1973 - Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,
FISU Games (Moscow, Russia) – 4th place,
World Championships (Iran)
World Cup - Bronze medalist (Toledo, Ohio)
1974 - Eastern United States AAU Champion,
Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion
1975 - Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,
Pan American Games (Mexico) – 4th place Freestyle & Bronze medalist Greco Roman
1976 - Canadian Championships Freestyle Silver medalist & Greco Roman Champion,
Member of the Canadian Olympic Team
1980 - Inducted into the United States Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame
1984 - Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame
Oklahoma State University - Season Record for Harry Geris - 1972
Bouts:26
Wins:19
Loses:5
Ties:2
Falls:11
Win Pct:76.0%
Oklahoma State University - Dual Meet Record for Harry Geris - 1972
Bouts:14
Wins:10
Loses:2
Ties:2
Win Pct:78.6%