His athletic achievements and leadership as Captain of the wrestling team allowed him to receive a partial scholarship based on sports participation and academics to the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering in 1916.

[3][1][4][5] According to the 1920 yearbook, Gerson was also a member of the Civil Engineering Society while in college, and was Captain of the Chess Team his Senior year.

[1] It was most likely his win in the bantamweight class at the Middle Atlantic Amateur Athletic Association Wrestling Championship that led to a berth on the U.S. Olympic Team.

[3] According to one source, Gerson may have left with a bad feeling about the games after allegedly being told by an official after the match that he may have been unfairly prejudiced because he was Jewish.

[5] After the Olympics he traveled to Romania in order to bring his parents and three additional family members back to America where they could establish new lives in Philadelphia.

[5] In February 2001, Sam was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments by being inducted into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.