Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League

 
When the WPIAL’s best golfers gather for their championships, perhaps they should bow their heads and remember Jerry Roman. Actually, the WPIAL already has done that, naming its annual preseason event at Cedarbrook Golf Club the Jerry Roman Memorial. It was a nice homage to him and what he meant to golf in his area”, Peters Township High School Golf Coach Dave Kuhn said. Roman, who died last year, was the leading advocate for WPIAL golfers, serving on the steering committee for 14 years and ensuring the championship events were held at the best area venues. Last year, the WPIAL Class AAA Boys Individual Championship was held at legendary Oakmont Country Club. “That was our crown jewel,” Kuhn said. “It didn’t just happen. Jerry was the guy who made it happen”. Other top courses that Roman targeted are Nemacolin, Diamond Run, and Allegheny. But there was more to Roman’s work than scheduling tee times. He improved the quality of play at championship events, shifting the qualifying criteria from quota-based to score-based. Roman began is long career in education as a Physical Education teacher in Georgia. Back home, the Beaver County native was as assistant at Ambridge then the Head Basketball Coach at Beaver High School before serving 14 years as the Assistant Principal at Bethel Park.