Harry Geris

Harry Geris (November 22, 1947 – April 24, 2008) 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. He was a ten-time Canadian champion, also earning a scholarship to wrestle at perennial powerhouse Oklahoma State Universitywhere he earned All-American status competing at the NCAA national tournament. He also represented Canada at the Pan-American Games, the Common Wealth Games and the World Cup, winning the bronze medal at all three events.

Harry Geris started a London wrestling club in the 80's called AWOL (Amateur Wrestling of London). 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 of 1984.

Geris remained involved in amateur wrestling until his death. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2008/04/25/wrestling-geris-death.html 3-time Canadian Olympic wrestler dies at 60] , Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, April 25, 2008.]

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.

1966Canadian Freestyle Champion,Commonwealth Games (Jamaica) – 4th place,World Championships (Toledo, Ohio)

1967Canadian Freestyle Championships – Silver medalist(213.5lbs)

1968NCAA Champion- wrestled for Joliet Jr.College(Minnesota)Canadian Freestyle Champion

1971United States Wrestling Federation – Silver medalist

1972N.C.A.A. Championships – 4th place(All American Status)wrestled for Oklahoma State,National AAU/USA – Silver medalist,Canadian Olympic Team (Munich, Germany) 230lbs – 9th place

1973Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,FISU Games (Moscow, Russia) – 4th place,World Championships (Iran)World Cup - Bronze medalist (Toledo, Ohio)

1974Eastern United States AAU Champion,Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion

1975Canadian Freestyle & Greco Roman Champion,Pan American Games (Mexico) – 4th place Freestyle & Bronze medalist Greco Roman

1976Canadian Championships Freestyle Silver medalist & Greco Roman Champion,Member of the Canadian Olympic Team

1980Inducted into the United States Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame

1984Inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame

[Belanger, Joe: [http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/04/25/5383281-sun.html Body found behind school] , "London Free Press", April 25, 2008.]

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