Gerry began his wrestling career wrestling for Paul Ehrhard in Albert Lea, Minnesota. While in high school Gerry won three district titles and placed sixth in the 1968 State Individual Championships.
Upon graduation from high school, Gerry came to Bethany Lutheran College where he placed first in the 1970 State Junior College Championships and third in the 1971 Championships. Gerry was a two time qualifier for the National Junior College Tournament. Bethany is also where Gerry met his wife, Linda (Johnson) Bakke.
Gerry then continued his wrestling career at Gustavus Adolphus College where he earned runner up honors in the MIAC Championships in 1972 and was the 1973 GAC Most Valuable Wrestler. Gerry compiled a career college record of 69-20-3.
Upon graduation from Gustavus Adolphus, Gerry accepted his first teaching and coaching position at Nashua High School in Iowa. At Nashua, Gerry's teams established a record of 36-17-2. Gerry also was honored in 1978 as Iowa State Wrestling Coach of the Year. From Nashua, he moved to Vinton, Iowa, for one season where his team had a 7-5-0 record. In 1980 Gerry accepted his present position at Buffalo High School in Minnesota. Gerry's teams at Buffalo have advanced to the state team championships seven times (1990 - 3rd place and 1991 - 4th place finishes). He has had a number of state place winners and individual state champions. In 1991, Gerry was selected as the Class AA Minnesota State Coach of the Year and in 1998 he was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Gerry is among a very small group of coaches throughout the nation that has earned State Coach of the Year honors from two different states.
Gerry has also been active outside of wrestling and the classroom. He and his family have given of their time and talents at the Buffalo Group Home for mentally handicapped adults. He speaks to organizations about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Besides coaching wrestling Gerry has also coached cross country and tennis at Buffalo High School and currently is a volunteer coach at Mound Westonka schools.
Gerry, and his wife, Linda reside in Buffalo where he has been a social studies teacher and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for the past 27 years. They are the parents of six children: Eric, Heather, Shawn, Heidi, Alyssa, and Kyle. Eric, Heather, and Shawn are all graduates of Bethany Lutheran College. * (Much of Gerry’s profile was taken from his 1998 Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame profile)
