John Bowlsby was a three-time All-American and a two-time Big Ten champion at heavyweight for the University of Iowa. He placed third at the NCAA championships in 1975 and fifth in 1977 and 1978. Bowlsby was a member of the U.S. freestyle World championship team in 1974 at 220 pounds after his senior year of high school and made a second World team in 1977 at heavyweight. He was also a U.S. Greco-Roman national champion in 1978 and a state wrestling champion for Waterloo West High School in 1973 and 1974.