Jeff Bowyer (2000) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame - James Madison University Athletics

Jeff Bowyer

Induction:
2000
Class:
1987

Jeff "Peanut" Bowyer set JMU's career record for wrestling victories during four standout seasons, and the mark still stood 13 years later when he was inducted into the University's Sports Hall of Fame. The Phillipsburg, N.J., native had a career mark of 125-34-2 (.783), was a three-time participant in the NCAA Championships, and was a leading performer on several outstanding JMU teams. The Dukes won two Eastern Regional team titles and placed second in the region another time during his four seasons.

He was named an honorable mention freshman All-America in his first JMU season and twice was named the team's outstanding performer. He twice won state individual championships, and as a senior he set a team season record for victories while compiling a 43-8 record. He was 34-7-1 as a junior, 25-6 as a sophomore and 23-13-1 as a freshman.

Bowyer became JMU's head wrestling coach in 1988-89, and in 1998-99 his team won Colonial Athletic Association and Virginia state crowns and sent four individuals to the NCAA Championships. In 1999-2000 his team won a second straight CAA title and sent a team-record seven individuals to the NCAA Championships. In 1999-2000 he also became JMU's career coaching wins leader, and his wrestlers had made 25 appearances in the NCAA Championships after his first 12 coaching seasons.

Bowyer's wrestlers also performed well academically with JMU having the only team in the nation to be ranked among the top five nationally in overall grade-point-average during each of the six seasons before his Hall of Fame induction.