Hall of Fame
When Ron Jones took up wrestling in high school, he had no idea it would lead to the brilliant career that has earned him induction into the Rutgers-Newark Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I started wrestling to strengthen my body for football,” Jones recalled. “I lost my first four matches and got pinned twice.”
But Jones was determined to excel at his new sport and by his senior year at Manchester Regional High School, Jones won the District and County championships. Wrestling at 118 lbs. for NCAS, he captained the wrestling team three of the five years he competed. Along the way, Jones was a two-time Metropolitan Tournament Champion, a two-time NCAA Northeastern Regional champion and two-time All-American. Jones was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the Metropolitan Tournament and was placed in the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
In amateur Olympic-style competition, Jones was third in regional competition and sixth nationally in the 1980 Olympic Trials. After finishing fourth in the regional Olympic trials this year, Jones retired.
An assistant wrestling coach at NCAS, Jones also runs the 90-member Wayne Panther Wrestling Club, which he founded.
Jones has an extensive background in cable television and looks to further his career in communications now that his competitive wrestling days are over.
