Vito Perrone is a 1975 graduate of Grand Forks Central. While at GFC, Vito excelled in the sports of football, wrestling, and track. During his football career, Vito was recognized several times for his excellence on the gridiron. He was a member of the Grand Forks All-City team twice, most valuable GFC running back twice, and was selected to participate in the Shrine football game following his senior season.
Vito Perrone wrestled for GFC from 1972 to 1975. His junior year, Vito went 17-9 at 155 pounds and finished 2nd at the Northeast Region Tournament. His senior year, Vito had a 23-4 record at 167 pounds and was co-captain of the team. He placed 2nd at the EDC Tournament, 1st at the Northeast Region Tournament, and 2nd at the North Dakota State Tournament. It was also during his senior year that GFC recorded its only undefeated dual season to date, finishing 10-0. The team also won the EDC Tournament and the Northeast Region Tournament.
Arguably, Vito’s greatest athletic successes at GFC were on the track. Over the course of the indoor and outdoor seasons, Vito, as well as his relay teams, placed multiple times in several events at the state track meets. Vito placed 3rd and 8th in the 220-yard dash and 1st, 4th, and 5th in the 440-yard dash. He was a member of the state championship relay team in the 880-yard relay and his mile relay team twice won the state championship. The mile relay championship team from his senior year still holds the school record. Vito won the Cliff Cushman Track and Field award his senior year.
Vito had this to say about his GFC coaches, “We had great coaches. Ron Bergh in football, Vince Ames in wrestling, and Pat Sullivan in track and field. I was very influenced by all of them and I thank God he put them in my life.”
Vito has earned degrees in humanities, philosophy, spirituality, theology, and divinity. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2000. Vito has served the Catholic Church in full-time ministry in the San Francisco area for the past 37 years.