Foley "The Chef" Dowd

Apex South Instructor

Foley Dowd became a close, lifelong friend of Apex founder Damion Logan and co-founder Dane Tabano during their time as wrestling teammates at The University of Michigan. His awe-inspiring athleticism and unique creativity on the mat made him a true showcase whenever he donned a singlet, and he certainly has the wrestling resume to prove it.

As a high school student-athlete, Foley Dowd was a member of The Peddie School’s class of 1999. He firmly established himself as one of the most successful wrestlers ever to wear a Falcon singlet. He left a tremendous legacy at Peddie as a four-time Mercer County champion and two-time National Prep Champion in 1998 and 1999 at 130 and 135 pounds, respectively. Those Prep National titles followed his fifth-place finish as a freshman, and third place finish his sophomore year. Dowd posted a remarkable 153-2 high school record, going undefeated his junior and senior years.

In international style wrestling, Dowd captured the 1999 Junior National Freestyle Championships in Fargo, N.D. at 132 pounds. This earned him a spot on the ASICS Tiger All-American first team, considered one of the top honors in high school wrestling. Dowd also won the NHSCA Senior National high school tournament and was selected to USA Wrestling Magazine’s prestigious All-American Dream Team. Peddie coach Keith Holcombe referred to Dowd’s victories at NHSCA Senior Nationals, Fargo Junior Nationals, and Prep Nationals as “winning high school wrestling’s Triple Crown.”

Foley Dowd’s prowess on the mat attracted the attention of many top-shelf Division I programs, with The University of Michigan becoming his final selection. Taking his gritty determination with him to the Wolverine program, Dowd was elected captain by his teammates and proved he could wrestle with the best in the Big Ten and NCAA. He finished his career with a record of 103-31, while garnering All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Perhaps the best testament to Foley Dowd’s self-sacrifice and personal courage was his sixth place finish at the 2004 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at 133 pounds, which he achieved after rehabilitating a severe neck injury and resulting spinal fusion surgery he suffered during the 2002-03 campaign.

Upon finishing at The University of Michigan with a degree in Sociology, Dowd moved to Chicago to attend Kendall College’s nationally-acclaimed Culinary Arts program. While completing his degree at Kendall, Dowd served as an assistant coach for the Northwestern University Wildcat wrestling team, where he worked closely with two-time All-American Ryan Lang, as well as NCAA champions Jake Herbert and Dustin Fox.

Foley currently lives on his family farm in Howell, New Jersey with his son, Conroy, and works as an Executive Sous Chef.

Chef Dowd’s proudest moment as a wrestling coach: “My experience in the Northwestern University wrestling program, where I was able to help train multiple All-Americans and individual NCAA champions in my short, two-year tenure there.”