The “Harry Geris Memorial Women's Wrestling Duals” are being hosted in London, Ontario, Canada at Alumni Hall on the campus of  The University of Western Ontario, Saturday,  November 19, 2011  starting at 9:30 A.M. 

The event features top University women’s wrestling teams from Canada and USA at Western’s first women’s dual meet tournament.

The event is named after Harry Geris, a London wrestling “icon” who was a past coach with the University of Western Ontario and London-Western wrestling program. His son, Shawn Geris, a former wrestler himself who was coached by Harry and now a police officer in Toronto, will be in attendance at this year's event. 

This is the fourth edition of  Harry Geris Memorial Women's Wrestling Duals and this is the first time that the competition will  be held in his home town of London, Ontario, Canada. The first three editions (2008, 2009 and 2010) of Harry Geris Memorial were hosted at the University of Cumberlands - Williamsburg,  Kentucky, USA  by his friend Kip Flanik,  who was the women's wrestling coach at that time at Cumberlands. 

The head coach of Western wrestling program, Ray Takahashi and  Harry's teammate from 1976 Olympics thought appropriate to bring this event  to London.  From this year and onwards  the  "Harry Geris Memorial Women's Wrestling Duals"  will be an annual women's wrestling  event to be held on the third weekend  in the month of November  in the city of London, Ontario, Canada on  the campus of The University of Western Ontario.

The following  women's wrestling teams will compete in this year's event in a two-pool round robin tournament format with a cross-over draw: 
 
Canadian teams -  University of  Western Ontario - London,   McMaster University - Hamilton,   Brock University - St. Catherines,   Simon Fraser University - Vancouver,   University of Alberta – Edmonton

U.S.A. teams -  Missouri Valley College - Marshall, Missouri ,  Lindenwood University - St. Charles, Missouri  and  King College - Bristol, Tennessee.

Of the U.S. programs, King College is currently ranked No. 2 in the United States in the WCWA rankings, Lindenwood is in a tie for No. 3 in the rankings and Missouri Valley is ranked No. 6. King boasts two No. 1 ranked individuals in the WCWA rankings, Emily Martin at 109 lbs and Alli Ragan at 143 pounds. A top ranked wrestlers from Lindenwood is Kendra Lewis at 170 pounds.

Simon Fraser also competes in the WCWA, and is tied with Lindenwood with the No. 3 ranking. 

About Harry Geris

Harry Geris coached with the Western mustangs and its affiliated club, the London-Western Wrestling Club when he passed away suddenly on April 24, 2008. He died of heart failure while moving and setting up  mats for London elementary school wrestling tournament. 
 
Harry was a 3-time Olympian in the sport of  Wrestling for Canada and  and was known as the "Gentle Giant"  (6ft.,  4 inches  and lean - 220 pounds)  of Canadian wrestling. He was inducted into Wrestling Canada’s Hall of Fame and the USA Junior College Hall of Fame as well as London Sports Hall of Fame.  

Harry was a USA Junior College champion while wrestling at Joliet Junior College, Illinois  and a NCAA All-American while at Oklahoma State University in the early 70’s.  He was involved in all capacities in the sport of Wrestling  as an athlete, official, coach, administrator, mentor and volunteer.

 Beside being a successful wrestler, Harry was an excellent wrestling coach. He  coached both men and women wrestlers at local, provincial, national and International level including his sons Jason and Shawn.  His women wrestlers excelled more and earned  provincial, national and International honours at Junior and Senior level. The women wrestlers such as Lauren Radoja, Jill McCullum and  Katie Patroch  that he coached since high school went on to be Ontario High school champions,  Canadian University champions  as well as National champions.  Katie Patroch went on to  represented  Canada at International events,  the Worlds,  World Cup and  Commonwealth  Wrestling Championships.

The Harry Geris Memorial Wrestling Duals is a tournament dedicated to Harry Geris