Ethan Bowman is a recent Shaw University commit, we ask him a few questions about his soccer journey, finding his love for the game, and choosing an HBCU for college.
2C. Ethan, Thank you for taking the time, let’s start with the basics, where are you from? what grade are you in? and what position do you play?
EB. My name is Ethan Bowman I’m from Stockbridge, Georgia. I’m in 12th grade, and I am a Forward.
2C. Can you tell us how you fell in love with soccer?
EB. It’s funny because when I first started playing I didn’t enjoy it at all. My mom who is from Kenya was always big on me playing soccer since it’s a big sport there. There were times when I was younger that I wanted to quit, but she made me stay with it because she could see the potential that I had. As I started to get older, develop a better understanding of the game, and watching it more I started to fall in love with it. To this day I always thank her for never letting me quit.
2C. Who were/are some of your favorite players and why?
EB. I’m an Arsenal fan so a player I loved to watch growing up was Mesut Özil. I loved his playmaking, how he controlled the game with his distribution, and how that helped better his teammates. Another player is Jaden Sancho. He’s a fast-paced winger who finishes very well and is very creative with his dribbling and passing which is something I am always looking to improve as a Forward.
2C. What are your strongest qualities on the pitch?
EB. One of my strongest qualities on the field is my playmaking. I’m always looking for different ways to advance the ball up the field. My finishing is also another good quality I have. I don’t have the strongest leg so my shots are more placement shots than power. Another good quality that I have is my crossing, as a winger that is something that you have to be able to do well.
2C. Do you have any standout memories from your time playing so far?
EB. I have a lot but two that stand out to me the most are my freshman year when I finished the season with 9 assists and my team went 9-3. It was my last season playing with my friends who I played with since middle school before I transferred schools. The other one was a tournament in Chattanooga that my club team played in my 11th grade year where we made it to the semi-final. Even though we didn’t win the tournament we played well and I enjoyed hanging out with my teammates during our off time.
2C. You attended the HBCU ID Camp recently, how important was a camp like that to you?
EB. It was very important. This camp allowed me to play in front of Coach McClure who I was already in contact with a couple of months before the camp. It also allowed me to have an in-person conversation with him as well, and for him to get to know me a little bit better.
2C. You recently accepted an offer to play at Shaw University, how important was it to you to choose an HBCU over a PWI (Non-HBCU)?
EB. It was very important. Attending an HBCU will allow me to train and learn in an environment and community that embraces all of who I am and won’t hinder my progression because of it. I’ve also heard that the HBCU experience is unmatched, and that’s something I want to experience for myself.
2C. What are some of your goals and aspirations for your soccer career? What about off the pitch?
EB. On the pitch my next goal is to make an NPSL team while I’m in college. A big goal that I have is to get called up to the Kenyan National Team. The end goal though is to play professionally. Some goals off the pitch are to find new hobbies outside of soccer, develop my body to that of a college athlete, and to maintain above a 3.5 GPA in college.
2C. Why are you UP NEXT?
EB. I’m up next because I’m a hard worker, a team player who will do whatever to win, and I’m always striving to get better at my craft.
2C. Thanks for chatting with us!
You can follow Ethan’s journey on IG: @official.ethaan
