GENE BOWMAN

A longtime “Ambassador of High School Wrestling” Gene Bowman was not only an outstanding wrestler, coach and referee, his name is well-known throughout the United States high school wrestling community as a man with a passion for wrestling.

Gene was a four year wrestling letterman at Canonsburg High School, undefeated in regular season competition during the 1945, 1946 and 1947 seasons.

He was a three time WPIAL champion, 112 lbs. in 1945, 120 lbs. in 1946 and 1947 and a PIAA runners-up at 120 lbs. His overall high school record was 96-9 for a winning percentage of .914. In addition to his high school record he was a five time AMA-AAU champion and a 1947 National Junior AAU champion.

His wrestling coaching career started as head coach at Cecil High School 1957-58, moving to become assistant coach at Canon-McMillan High School 1959-1965 and head coach at Chartiers-Houston High School 1965-1969. Bowman was a PIAA Official for many years.

Bowman became the Executive Director of the prestigious (Press Old Newsboys Wrestling Classic) Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, pitting the best of Pennsylvania vs. the U.S.A. (a collection of the very best high school wrestling seniors in the United States) 1975-1999.

A member of the outstanding 1947 Canonsburg High School wrestling team that was inducted into the Washington / Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 1994 and he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame, Class of 1989.

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