In some ways, it's just the icing on the cake.

After helping lead his team to the inaugural Northern Buckeye Conference title in boys soccer, Woodmore midfielder Donny Bowen is the Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press and the NBC Player of the Year.

Bowen, a junior, was one of the league's most versatile players, playing nearly every minute of each match during the season and scoring nine goals and nine assists in the process.

“It's really humbling knowing that the hard work has paid off,” said Bowen. “Not just the stats but on the field, the coaches noticing what is going on, the leadership aspect (of things).”

Bowen is quick to note just how tight-knit the Wildcats were this season.

“I had great teammates this year, not just the seniors,” he said. “Coach Pocino always talks about how we're not individual players out there. We're a unit. When something would go wrong, I'd look at the guys and say we're one unit – we're a big family. Our chemistry was unbelievable.

“At the beginning of the year, we stressed that everybody had to chip in — we couldn't have one or two guys carrying the load. Then we just put it all together. Nobody worried about, 'Oh, I'm going to get mine.' It was, 'We are going to get ours.'”

Aside from soccer, Bowen is also a member of the varsity basketball team, the National Honor Society, Spanish Club and the Teen Advisory Group — a collection of high-school students that speaks with children about dealing with peer pressure, drug use and the like. He maintains a 3.89 grade-point-average and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

The thing that stands out about Bowen is not just his physical endurance and capabilities as a soccer player, but more than that, his leadership skills, which you gain a better understanding of after speaking with his head coach, Carlo Pocino, who is the All-Press Co-Coach of the Yeare.

“He played as a team member and he works with everyone,” said Pocino. “He's a good captain and controls the team real well. He is well-liked by his teammates.

“He's a good soccer player — he will work as hard as anyone on the team. He will move up and down (the field) and helps on offense and defense. He controls the midfield well.”

In addition to being named the NBC's Player of the Year, Bowen was also named to the Division III all-district and the NBC first team.

The team had three other players named to the All-Press first team, including goalkeeper Ryan Paul, forward Malachi Brown, the team's leading scorer, and defender Ryan Sandwisch. Brown was also named to the all-district second team and Sandwisch and Paul were recognized with honorable mention in the district.

Defender Garrett McAfee and midfielder Cody May were named to the All-Press second team and defender Gabe Wilt was recognized with honorable mention.

Pocino, now in his seventh season at the helm, was quick to note the stellar play of Paul, who allowed just 22 goals in 17 games (1.29 goals against average) this season.

“When he (Paul) first came out, he said, 'Coach, the only thing I want to do is play goalie.' He's gone to goalie school with Malcolm Edge (who runs an organization called Goalkeepers Edge). Every time he has a chance, he practices with Edge. He's gotten much better and has made some saves that I thought for sure were going to go in.”

The team's signature victory came against Eastwood, the reigning Suburban Lakes League (SLL) Champions, on Oct. 6 when the Wildcats defeated the Eagles, 2-1, to clinch the NBC title.

For much of the season, the Wildcats, who finished with a 14-3 overall record and a 12-0 record in the NBC, dominated their opponents, outscoring them by a combined 77-22.

The team had a rough start to the season, going 1-2 in the first three games, which included losses to Oak Harbor (3-1) and Ottawa Hills (5-0), both quality teams. This signaled a turning point in the Wildcats' season, as the team embarked on a 13-game winning streak.

“We had a disappointing loss to Oak Harbor,” said Bowen, “and we really came together and started playing better.”

The team's season came to an end in the D-III district semifinals when the Wildcats fell to Mansfield Christian, 3-2, on a tie-breaking goal by the Flames with just 48 seconds remaining.

Despite a tough loss to the end the season, Pocino is excited for what the future holds.

“We had a good run,” he said. “Most of the players will be back next year. We will have a good run at the NBC and the state playoffs.”

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