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Every once in a while a talented individual with passion and a competitive drive comes along. Donny Bowen is a prime example of that.
The Woodmore 6-foot-3 guard/forward is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds, good enough to establish himself as one of the most versatile players in the Northern Buckeye Conference.
Bowen, a junior, lettered as a freshman and sophomore. He is no stranger to success, having been named to the District 7 and the (now-defunct) Suburban Lakes League first teams, as well as the Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press First Team. He was even the NBC and All-Press Player of the Year in soccer last fall.
When watching Bowen play basketball, his competitive nature and enthusiasm for the game sticks out like a sore thumb.
“He’s an ultra-competitive kid, someone who hates to lose,” said Woodmore coach Brad Sander, now in his second season. “He comes in and works hard in practice. He’s not someone who just flips the switch.”
Bowen said, “I just don’t like losing, even in gym class. I’ve never liked to lose. You’ve always got to have that will to win and that (starts with) working hard in practice.”
On top of that, Bowen is one of the team’s leaders, serving as a galvanizing force for his teammates.
“He’s a great leader who understands the game and what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Sander. “He’s somebody we’re fortunate to have in our program.”
While many players are concerned with scoring and lighting up the scoreboard, Bowen prides himself on two of the more unpopular facets of the game: rebounding and defense.
“[I] put a lot of effort and hard work into those,” said Bowen, who maintains a 3.8 grade point average. “I always pride myself on (that).”
Ultimately, what sets Bowen apart from other players is not just his athletic ability, but also his intangibles; his competitive drive, his leadership skills and, above all, his will to win. There are others who are talented and physically gifted, as he is, but Sander says the intangibles are what makes him a unique player.
As for his team, the Wildcats, who are in the midst of a five-game home stand, are 5-5 overall and 3-3 mark in NBC. Woodmore trails Lake and Eastwood, who are tied for first place with 5-1 league records.
If the Wildcats, currently tied with Rossford and Elmwood for third place, are to make a run for the league title, they’ll likely have to defeat both the Eagles and the Flyers, who they play in early February.
To give one an idea of just how competitive conference play has been thus far, Otsego, which was picked by to win the league, is currently stuck in sixth, an indication of the parity that exists within the NBC.
“The NBC is brutal in terms of competition,” said Sander. “The games are hard-fought every night. You can play well and still lose.”
Sander, a 2000 Genoa graduate, knows a thing or two about basketball, having lettered a remarkable four times during his playing days as a Comet. In his first season at Woodmore, the Wildcats improved drastically, going 10-11 (6-6, SLL) following a 4-17 (1-11, SLL) the previous season.
This year, Bowen’s junior class, which includes Bowen and fellow starters Jake Lewandowski, Cody Croll, Harrison Wooten and reserve Andy Shrewsbury, has been a vital part of the program’s improvement. Bowen also credits fellow guard Jon Sandwisch.
“Jon is a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor,” he said. “He always has that desire to win. He can shoot outside, get in the lane and finish with contact. It helps knowing that teams can’t just (focus) on one of us.”
Sander is confident that good things are on the horizon.
“I feel like we have the athletes and the talent to play really well,” said Sander, who previously served as the junior varsity coach at Genoa under Jeff Overymyer. “We’re fighting ourselves to get over the hump. We have great potential. We just have to keep getting better. I’m excited with the group of guys we’ve got. One of these days we’ll get over the hump.”
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