Ronan Hall of Fame: “Distinguished Athlete” Roger Jore

Profiles of new inductees into the Ronan Hall of Fame Class of 2024 continue with three-time state wrestling champion Roger Jore.

The Ronan Chiefs dominated Class A wrestling during the 1970s, winning five state titles. Jore, a 1976 Ronan High School graduate, played an instrumental role in three of those titles as a member of championship squads in 1973, 1974 and 1976.

A three-time State Champion, he compiled a record of 114 wins and four losses while competing in three different weight classes.

In addition to his high school accomplishments, Jore was a member of numerous elite Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) wrestling squads in 1975 and 1976. Prior to his senior year he was the Montana AAU Champion in the 15-18 age group in freestyle wrestling, earning him a spot on a Montana Cultural Wrestling Exchange trip to Japan.

Following his senior year of high school competition, he and teammate Jim Darlington were named to the USA Wrestling High School All-America Team; the only two Montanans on the 42-member squad.

His outstanding high school career opened the door for further competition following graduation. In June, Jore won gold medals in the National AAU tournament in Greco-Roman and freestyle competitions in the 132-pound weight class in DeKalb, Ill. That earned him a place on the national 15-18-year-old AAU Cultural Exchange team which toured Turkey in August.

He also competed in the Regional Olympic Wrestling Trials and was invited to wrestle in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jore capped off the 1976 year by being named the recipient of the Montana Little Sullivan Award, which recognizes Montana’s outstanding male athlete of the year.

Jore spent his falls during high school on the gridiron in Ronan. He was a member of the 1974 State Championship football team and was named first team, All-Conference cornerback in 1975.

Inductees will be honored during a ceremony Feb. 1 at the Ronan Community Center.