Alton Bowyer

Alton Boywer ’62

Postseasons: D11 Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ

Tournament Championships: Boiling Springs Champ

1962 – 98 lbs.: 25-0, District Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ

1961 – 98 lbs.: District Semifinals

1960 – 98 lbs.: (1-0)

Bowyer broke Easton’s 13 year streak without a state championship when he broke through and won the 98 pound crown as a senior.

Wrestled one varsity match in his sophomore season, where he earned a 2-1 decision in a win over Notre Dame.

As a junior, he took over the opening weight. Started the season with a runner-up finish at Boiling Springs, then ran through the season and earned the second seed at the D11 tournament. Lost in the D11 semifinals, 1-0, to 1963 state finalist Dave Wall (Northampton), whom Bowyer had wrestled to a draw during the season.

As a senior, Bowyer ripped through the Rover schedule, winning the Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament, including a 5-1 win over 1963 state champ and two-time state finalist Bill Welker (Shamokin). Years later, Welker (a National Wrestling Hall of Fame official), referred to Bowyer as “the meanest wrestler in my athletic career” in a blog post. Did not yield a point and had two falls in the D11 tournament. Also shutout the field at regionals, including his second win of the year over Shannon Allen (Kingston). At the state tournament, gave up his first points of the postseason in a 8-3 win over Allen Roberts (Waynesburg) before shutting out Gerald Williams (Manheim Central), 3-0, to win a state championship. Bowyer took Williams down seven seconds into their bout, then rode him for the rest of the first and all of the second period. Only gave up points in 6 of his 25 matches and pinned five opponents on the year.