Joe Williams and Bob Bowlsby will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Williams will be inducted as a Distinguished member and Bowlsby as an Outstanding American. They will be inducted as part of the Class of 2023 at the 46th Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 3-4.
Joe Williams is one of the greatest Iowa wrestlers of all time. As a three-time NCAA National champion (96-’98) and four-time All American, Williams led Iowa to NCAA National team titles in 1996, ‘97, and ‘98.
On the International scene Williams was a World Bronze medalist in 2001 and 2005 and a 2004 Olympian.
Bob Bowlsy was Athletic Director at the University of Iowa from 1990-2006. His wrestling background of competing for Bob Siddens at Waterloo West was a foundation for his involvement and promotion of wrestling throughout his career. Bowlsby’s introductiuon to Iowa Wrestling started with his brother John who was a three-time All American for Iowa in 1975, ’77, and ’78.
Bowlsby’s influence on wrestling was crucial for the advancement of our sport in ways that most will never fully realize. As Dan Gable told me several times over the years, you want wrestling people making decisions on wrestling. Bob Bowlsby was always a wrestling guy and his influence and direction for our sport had a big impact on wrestling over the years.
From NWHOF.org
Joe Williams was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for the University of Iowa. He had a career record of 129-9 while helping the Hawkeyes win back-to-back NCAA team titles in 1996 and 1997 and being named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA tournament in 1998.
Williams finished fifth at the 2004 Olympics and competed in six World Championships, winning bronze medals in 2001 and 2005 while placing fourth in 1999 and fifth in 2007. He won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in 1999 and 2003 and was a four-time World Cup champion. He is a 10-time National Freestyle champion and a six-time U.S. Senior National Freestyle champion.
Williams was a four-time Illinois state high school champion for Mount Carmel High School, wrestling for Bill Weick, a Distinguished Member of the Hall of Fame. Williams had a career record of 162-1 with 95 career falls. His only loss was a disqualification, resulting from an illegal slam, as a freshman. Williams was named Chicago Tribune’s Illinois High School Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1993.
Bob Bowlsby wrestled at Waterloo West High School for legendary Hall of Fame coach Bob Siddens and at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he was team captain and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion.
A lifelong advocate for wrestling, Bowlsby served as the Chair of the NCAA Wrestling Committee, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame. Bowlsby Family Legacy Award is named in honor of his family. Throughout his career Bowlsby used his wrestling background, skill, expertise and leadership to help the programs he has overseen achieve growth and financial success. He retired in 2022 after 10 years as commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.
Bowlsby arrived at Stanford after a 15-year stint as the director of athletics for the University of Iowa. In 2013, he was named to the NCAA 40th Anniversary Tribute Team, which recognized the 40th anniversary of NCAA Division II competition, and received the MSU Moorhead Alumni Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Dragon Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the University of Northern Iowa Hall of Fame in 2007. He received his bachelor’s degree from MSU Moorhead in 1975 and his master’s degree from the University of Iowa.
Congratulations to Joe Williams and Bob Bowlsby for this much deserved honor.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
