A Premier Regional and National Stage. The series proudly will mirror the popular Adidas Nationals Championship for wrestling, drawing elite amateur athletes from across the country to compete for national honors. Critically, it also serves as a crucial hub for developing regional talent, hosting key qualifying and preparatory tournaments across America.
Powered by the R.E.A.C.H.E.S. Nonprofit. The Gladiator Series actively supports the R.E.A.C.H.E.S. (Rewarding Educational Athletic Choices Helping Each Sport) national nonprofit organization. R.E.A.C.H.E.S. works to promote, protect, and preserve the integrity of amateur athletics by providing educational and athletic opportunities to athletes of all ages and abilities. The series will serve as a significant platform for exponential growth and funding generator for this crucial mission.
Jeff "Peanut" Bowyer Plays a Prominent Role, Backed by Decades of Elite Experience. The tremendous success and dedication to the sport embodied by the Gladiator Series is spearheaded by the prominent leadership of Jeff "Peanut" Bowyer, a figure widely respected in the amateur wrestling community for his hands-on commitment to developing young athletes and supporting the sport's growth through both national and regional events. His background includes:
Collegiate Legend: As a wrestler at James Madison University (JMU), he set the all-time win record with 125 victories (1983-1987), became a two-time NCAA East Region Champion, and qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. He is an inductee into the JMU Sports Hall of Fame.
Championship Coach: He returned to serve as JMU's head wrestling coach for 14 seasons (starting 1988-89), compiling 112 victories and leading his teams to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships in 1999 and 2000. He was named CAA Coach of the Year in both of those seasons.
