Jerry overcame a bout with polio at age 11, and despite being left with a crippled leg, turned to wrestling. He didn't have much success on the mats in terms of an overall record, but didn't let that deter him from taking part in a sport he came to love and embody. He turned his attention to coaching, where he has had an unmatched success on both the high school and college levels. He coached five All-Americans, 25 NCAA qualifiers and 40 Middle Atlantic Conference place winners; including 5 champions and 11 silver medalists in a 25-year career leading the Lebanon Valley program from 1963 to 1988. He led the Dutchmen to a 216-160-2 record in the MAC and was 266-175-2 overall. Petrofes began his wrestling career at Euclid High School in Ohio and went on to get both his Bachelor's (1958) and Master's (1962) degrees in Health and Physical Education from Kent State University in Ohio. He coached at Ravenna Township High School in 1958, going 6-6 with 2 state qualifiers, then moved to Aurora High School from 1959 to 1962, amassing a 44-11 record and having 5 state qualifiers. From there, he went on to serve as an assistant coach at Williams College in 1962. In 1963, he was hired at Lebanon Valley, where, in addition to his wrestling responsibilities, he also served as Athletic Director, athletic trainer, and golf coach (150- 111 overall record). He started the Lebanon Valley Wrestling Invitational Tournament in 1970, which was named in his honor following his retirement in 1988, and he still serves as tournament director. The tournament has produced 11 NCAA Division III champions and 107 All-Americans. Petrofes served as Secretary for the NWCA Division ill Coaches Association for the past 12 years and also as Chairman of the NCWA Hall of Fame Committee for 10 years. An official for 20 years, he worked two state tournaments. Petrofes has already been inducted into the Pennsylvania High School District Three Hall of Fame, the Lebanon Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame (the first non-LVC grad to be inducted), the National Wrestling Coaches (Division 111) Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Central Chapter). He and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Karen and Terri. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Jerry Petrofes with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 1999.