Jerry started water skiing at age 9 on Dewart Lake. At age 12 he started skiing in ski shows with the Dewart Lake Skiers. His first love has always been being a jumper. He first competed at age 15 at the Lake LeAnn in Michigan where he cut too late, hit the side of the jump and was knocked unconscious. Understandably, his mother wouldn't let him compete again. Till about three years later he snuck away with some buddies from Dewart Lake and skied in a tournament at LaPorte, Indiana. There he met some people who became his local hero's in the sport: Ray Huber, Don Scheimann, Don Hoffman, Rollie Williams, Father Ralph Davis and the Love's.

 After returning home from the Air Force, he again started skiing in local  tournaments, and started working with Don Bucher leasing private lakes and then buying them and developing private ski lake sites. During this time he helped promote four Pro Water Ski events in Northern Indiana. Also during this time Jerry competed in numerous state, regional and national championships. In 1994 he was introduced to the new INT League and became heavily involved on a National basis until 2008.  Jerry was a State Jump Event Record Holder in Men's II, Men's III' Men's IV and Men's V. 3 time Midwest Jump Champion, 5 time National Medalist, and a World Masters Games Champion and record holder in 1985 with a 126 foot jump @ 30 mph on a 5 foot ramp. Jerry was co-founder of Waterski inc. and Founder of Camelot Ski Lake and Mirage Ski Lake. He has won the Mark Wiggs Memorial Award and has held offices in State, Regional levels, National Director of INT League and was past National President of INT for three years.