Class of 2007

Jon Cardi grew up in Charlton, and learned at a young age that hard work and determination delivered results. His wrestling career began as a fifth grader in Pashley Elementary, when his father, Art, began taking him and a few or his boyhood friends to local wrestling club practices and tournaments.

Though Jon loved football, he excelled in wrestling and joined the varsity line-up as an 8th grader. Over his five years representing BH-BL, under the tutelage of Coach Tim Koch, he amassed a record of 144 wins and only six losses, going undefeated from his sophomore through senior years. A five-time Section 2 finalist, Jon won the New York State Tournament three times, and in his junior year was voted Champion of Champions by the New York State sports writers and coaches. He is also a two-time DeMeo Award winner, honoring Section 2s best wrestler. In 1982, Jon also won the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Scholastic Male Athlete of the Year Award.

His career continued as a scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was successful both on and off the mat, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship and being named an ACC Academic All-American. While at Carolina, Jon represented the United States at the Junior World Greco Roman Championships in Sweden and won the 74 kg class. With many years and countless hours invested in the sport, the apex of his wrestling career was in the 1988 Olympic Trials, where he knocked off the reigning National Champion on his way to an alternate position on the Olympic Team. Jon returned to North Carolina to graduate college, with a double major in Economics and Industrial Relations.

After returning to the area in 1989, Jon went on to coach some very successful BH-BL wrestling teams with his mentor, Tim Koch. Within a few years he took a position with Mobil Oil which took him out of the area, but created the opportunity to apply a lifetime of experiences in this new competitive business arena.

Jon is the Vice President of National Sales for Safelite Autoglass where he leads a team of National Account managers which focus on key strategic clients. He is currently raising his family of four girls just outside Columbus, Ohio, with his lovely wife of 15 years, Michele. He is actively engaged with his childrens activities, community and church, coaching his daughters youth soccer teams and volunteering as a committee member of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.