FOR THE RECORD- SAM BOWMAN

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The world of college athletics is tiered. The NCAA’s Division I sits at the top of the pyramid and at the forefront of many people’s perception of college sports. Theoretically, all of the best athletes at the university level would be found playing for schools that are included in this top division. Theoretically. Most of the Varsity sports at CWU compete at the next level down: NCAA Division II. Theoretically, this means that our athletes are second rate, not elite like the Division I athletes. Most Division II athletes and coaches would probably tell you that theory doesn’t hold water, but one CWU athlete in particular has been working hard to prove it wrong this season. That athlete is Redshirt Senior Women’s Basketball Player Sam Bowman. In her fifth year at CWU, Bowman has been breaking records and racking up top-level stats across multiple categories. But while the awards and statistics give a glimpse of Bowman’s success, what they don’t show is the throughline of hard work and subsequent growth that Sam has undergone as an athlete, a person and a leader to get to the point where she is at now, which is making history.

Where She Came From

Bowman is from Zillah, WA, where she says she got her start in basketball at a young age when her dad would spend time with her at the gym. “I’m pretty sure I was like seven. My dad got me in there young,”

Bowman says.

Bowman was not always breaking stat records like she is now, though. Speaking on her formative years as an athlete, Bowman, now 6 feet 2 inches in height, says while she has always been tall, she has not always been athletic. Bowman says sports at those younger ages “took some work.”

The work she put in as a young athlete would pay off as Bowman would go on to play 4 years of varsity basketball at Zillah High School. The path towards a basketball career was not always the obvious choice for Bowman, however.

Bowman was also a four-year member of Zillah’s Volleyball team and she says she grappled with which sport to pursue. While Bowman was undecided on her sport of choice at the time, what was clear was her determination to play at the next level, whatever sport she chose. Bowman says, “I kind of just always knew…I was just like I’m gonna do it. Ever since freshman year [of] high school I was like I’m gonna make myself get there.”

Bowman eventually chose to pursue basketball because she says she likes the physicality and “hardness” of basketball. The choice led her to CWU after high school where she joined the CWU women’s basketball team under the direction of Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley.

What It Took To Get Here

Even though she had made it to the next level of athletics, Bowman’s domination on the court still wouldn’t begin for another few years. Like many new college athletes, Bowman did not see much playing time through her first two seasons at CWU.

Bowman says the time on the bench was not without reason or purpose and that she and the coaches used the time to improve herself. One of the challenges Bowman says she had when she began playing at CWU was her physicality. While she is typically taller than her opponents, Bowman says other players were usually stronger.

“I’d never lifted weights really ever in my life, and I really knew that I couldn’t compete to the level I wanted to against bigger posts because everybody was really bigger than me.” Coach RichardsonThornley says Bowman’s commitment to building strength in the weight room has been one of the biggest ways she has seen her improve. “It’s been fun to see Sam develop from a younger, smaller woman to a strong athletic beast of a player.”

Another challenge for Bowman as she began her college career was the mental challenge of being a student athlete. Adjusting to being away from home, challenging classes, more intense practices, and little playing time are all things Bowman says she struggled with in her first two years at CWU.

Bowman says with time as she has gotten older, she has improved with time management and has a better understanding that with mental health it’s okay to not be okay. Bowman says that while she has improved in these areas, it is an ongoing challenge. “I’m too hard on myself sometimes, and I need to give myself more grace,” Bowman says.

Richardson-Thornley similarly says Bowman is too hard on herself and doesn’t give herself enough credit, though she also has seen Bowman grow mentally as well. “She has a really good balance of having confidence in who she is and her ability to perform, while also having the humility to understand that she still has aspects of her game to get better,” Richardson-Thornley says.

From a basketball perspective, Richardson-Thornley says Bowman has become a dominant force in the league because of key improvements in the way she plays. Richardson-Thornley says the post is one of the most difficult positions to defend from but Bowman has improved in her ability to do so which allows her to avoid foul trouble and stay in the game.

Additionally, Richardson-Thornley says Bowman’s success comes from her diverse offensive skill set. Richardson-Thornley says, “[Bowman is] becoming an elite scorer in our league and passer as well. Beyond just her elite level rebounding abilities.”

Where She Is Now

Bowman’s focus on growth has resulted in a historic and record breaking season for her. Bowman’s former CWU teammate, and current Czech league professional player, Kassidy Malcolm says it has been almost hard to believe that Bowman has improved on her strong season last year. Malcolm says, “this year you see her just like taking it to that next level and it’s just like the coolest thing to see.”

When you look at Bowman’s accomplishments this year, it’s not hard to understand Malcolm’s surprise. In terms of CWU records, Bowman’s season has been nothing short of historical. Bowman became the first wildcat to record both 1000 career rebounds and 1000 career points. Additionally, Bowman recorded just the 3rd triple double in school history.

Bowman has been a stand-out in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) as well this season. She was named GNAC preseason player of the year, has been selected as GNAC player of the week 4 times, and set the GNAC record for most rebounds in a game.

On a national level, Bowman is listed in the top 10 of NCAA division II players this season in 7 different major stat categories, including 1st in rebounds, 2nd in doubledoubles, and 4th in field goals made.

Malcolm says while Bowman is not the type of person to worry about her own stats, they do reflect the work Bowman has put into herself and the game. “It just shows how much she’s put into this sport and like her hard work is paying off,” Malcolm says. Beyond her playing ability and subsequent stats, Coach Richardson-Thornley says Bowman’s growth can be seen in the leadership role she has taken on the team. Richardson-Thornley says, “Sam has developed and naturally stepped into that leadership role because of her trust in her process and our program and her investment in the program.”

The CWU Coach describes Bowman as both the ultimate competitor and ultimate encourager of her teammates and says that her self-criticism does not extend to her teammates. Richardson-Thornley says, “[Bowman] is [her teammates’] biggest fan and biggest supporter and that is shown through her selflessness when she’s out there playing.” Bowman’s teammate, Redshirt Senior Guard Tori Maeda, also says she sees Bowman as an encouraging leader. Maeda says, “I think she’s a great teammate and a great role model. And I think she really embodies what our team stands for. And that’s hard work and effort.”Maeda says between Bowman’s supportiveness on the court, her inspiring work ethic and the fact that she is just a good person all make it easy to celebrate her accomplishments with her.

What’s Next?

Following a stretch of away games to cap off league play, Bowman’s senior season will end with the GNAC conference tournament in Bellingham, WA. Regardless of the team’s result at the GNAC championship, Richardson-Thornley says Bowman has already left a substantial impact by raising the expectations in the CWU basketball program and of all those who play her position in the GNAC conference.

In terms of the records, Richardson-Thornley says she is happy for Bowman and her accomplishments and records, which will likely stand for a long time. “She will go down being one of the best all time Wildcats to ever wear her jersey and for sure to wear her jersey in her position,” Richardson-Thornley says.

Bowman says her goals for the rest of the season are to “ball out” and make it as far as possible in the GNAC tournament, but she also says she hopes to make more memories with her teammates, who she appreciates both on and off the court. Bowman says, “They’re a great group of girls. I really enjoy hanging out with them and just like enjoying taking it all in…I literally couldn’t accomplish my goals without them.”

After the season, Bowman has some options in terms of next steps, including a possible return to volleyball. Bowman says what she is leaning toward is making the move overseas to play basketball professionally in Europe.

Malcolm, who currently plays for Czech professional team Kara Trutnov, says she is confident in Bowman’s ability to perform at the professional level and is excited at the possibility of seeing Bowman going pro. Malcolm says, “Oh, she’d kill it, she’d be so good.” Whatever Bowman decides to do next, the trends in her career would suggest that her hard work will help her build a career far from second rate.