J.P. Reese began wrestling at
Rochester Adams High School in
Rochester Hills, Michigan. He was a two-time state place winner (sixth place – 1998 and third place – 1999) along with helping his team to a state championship in 1998 and a runner-up finish in 1999. He finished his senior year with a 57–1 record. Reese went on to wrestle for the
University of Missouri and started all four years. He became a two-time NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier (2002 and 2003). He obtained All-American honors at the University Nationals in Freestyle Wrestling in 2002. J.P. stands second all-time in career pins for the Mizzou Wrestling team (47) behind
Ben Askren. He graduated from Missouri with a B.A. in Business Management in 2004. J.P. was a 2006
beach wrestling National Champion and a 2007 Beach Wrestling World team member, competing at the
World Beach Wrestling Championships in
Antalya, Turkey. ==Mixed martial arts career==