Jerome "Jerry" Schmitz (2003) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Jerome "Jerry" Schmitz

Induction:
2003
Class:
1977

Maple Grove, MN A 1977 graduate of St. Cloud State University, Jerry Schmitz enjoyed an outstanding wrestling career for the Huskies. In 1975 and 1976, Schmitz gained All-America honors. He also won NIC championships during those same seasons. The captain and team MVP at SCSU in 1976, Schmitz went on to place second in NCAA Division II competition that season. A graduate of Howard Lake High School in 1972, Schmitz played football and wrestled as a prep athlete. Before attending SCSU, he wrestled at Willmar Junior College from 1973-74, winning a Minnesota State Junior College title in 1974. After SCSU, Schmitz went on to win a silver medal in Greco Roman wrestling at the 1979 Pan-Am Games, was an alternate on the 1979 USA World team and participated in the 1984 U.S. Olympic wrestling trials. In 1977, Schmitz served as an assistant coach to John Oxton at SCSU, and was head wrestling coach at Truckee (Calif.) High School in 1983. From 1984-86, Schmitz was the Greco Roman coach with Minnesota USA Wrestling and has been a member of the Minnesota Storm wrestling staff since 1999. Schmitz owns a bronze coach certification with USA Wrestling and has served as cultural exchange director for USA Wrestling with teams from Norway and Australia. Schmitz received his masters of science from SCSU in 1993. A volunteer announcer and commentator for Northwest Community Television, he helped produce and televise the first-ever broadcast of the MSHSL wrestling tournament in 1988. Schmitz is currently employed by Olympic Steel as a regional safety manager, and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers. He is active with his church in Maple Grove, where he resides with his wife Jane and their daughter Margaret and son Peter.