Name: Owen Bowers
Age: 17
Year: Senior
Sport: Softball
Position: Catcher
Years on Varsity: 4 years
Height & Weight: 6’0”/180 lbs.
Experience: 8 years (began playing softball at age 10)
Owen Bowers has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by McNair Auto Sales. As Richmond Senior High School’s female sports are in between seasons, Bowers participates in Lady Raiders sports year round, but recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla., thus earning her this week’s nomination.
RSHS Academics: Bowers earned her scholarship for her athletic ability on the softball field, but that’s not to discount her performance in the classroom. She currently boasts a 4.95 GPA, which is ninth best in her graduating class of 2018. Bowers is enrolled in Richmond’s dual-enrollment program that allows her to take college courses while in high school.
As she’s a straight-A student in the AP cluster, Bowers is currently taking four classes at Richmond, which include AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, Honors English (should took AP English as a junior) and Weight Training. At Richmond Community College, Bowers has taken both required math courses, and is enrolled in Spanish 172 this fall. She noted that history is her favorite subject.
“History has always been my favorite subject in school,” Bowers said. “It’s interesting to me to learn about the past. History sparks an interest with me because there’s so much to learn about.
“I like the crime aspect of history,” she continued. “One of my favorite things I’ve learned is about the Jonestown colony in South America. Its leader, Jim Jones, basically poisoned his whole colony in a mass murder. Trying to understand things like that are so interesting.”
RSHS Sports: Not only is she a stud on the softball diamond, Bowers is a Sandhills Athletic Conference champion middle blocker for the Lady Raiders volleyball team. Using her tall, muscular frame, she could be found at the front of the net drilling home right-handed kills that helped Richmond to a 25-1 overall record. She got called up to the varsity squad her sophomore season and quickly became a staple in helping set the program’s most wins in a single season during the 2017 campaign.
Bowers was also named to the 2017 All-SAC team for volleyball, along with four of her fellow teammates.
“I am blessed to be named an All-Conference player along with everyone else who was nominated,” Bowers said. “I’m thankful for everyone who nominated me. It’s great to leave Richmond volleyball with a memorable season.”
New to Richmond, as well as Bowers, this year is the Lady Raiders swim team. As the program is in its inaugural season, Bowers is a member but hasn’t decided which events she’ll participate in yet. She noted that she’s interested in the 100-meter butterfly event. The RO will cover the Lady Raiders swim team this winter, so stay tuned to see how Bowers performs.
Extracurricular Activities: Being a three-sport athlete requires a lot of time at practice and in the weight room, but that hasn’t stopped Bowers from becoming immersed in school activities. From her freshman until junior year, she was a general member of RSHS’ National Beta Club, and was also inducted into the National Honors Society her eleventh-grade year. As she is ranked in the top 10 of her class, she was also named a junior marshal.
This year, Bowers is still involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an afterschool program that meets to combine fellowship with athletics. Recently, Bowers was also named to the RSHS Homecoming Court, where she was escorted by senior football player Kaleb Douglas.
Bowers also enjoys volunteering around the community, and one of her favorites things to do is help out at the Richmond County Animal Shelter. Usually accompanied by her volleyball teammates, Bowers noted she likes helping out there because she can play with the animals while also getting the chance to help take care of them and clean their cages. She has also participated in Second Baptist Church’s “World Changers” mission group, which has allowed Bowers to travel to Alabama and Tennessee to help paint and restore houses for families in need.
Hobbies: It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Bowers’ biggest hobby is training and working out. She attributes her success as a softball and volleyball player, and hopeful success as a swimmer, to being active in the gym and working on her conditioning. Head volleyball coach Shellie Wimpey has noted previously that Bowers is a “beast” in the weight room.
When she’s not working on improving her strength, Bowers can be found hitting in a batting cage. As softball season isn’t too far off, she hopes to be in the cage every night to try and lead the Lady Raiders on another deep state playoff run. She also enjoys just hanging out with friends and attending youth group at Second Baptist Church in Hamlet.
Interesting Fact: For her interesting fact, Bowers, who has already explained her interest in history, said she enjoys watching documentaries.
“I really like watching documentaries,” Bowers said. “Some people may think it’s weird, but I like to learn as much as I can. And it’s something my dad and I both like to do together.
“There are a lot of genres that I like to watch,” Bowers continued. “But my favorite series is ESPN’s ’30 for 30.’ I really like the Bo Jackson and Christian Laettner documentaries. I also like anything that is Holocaust related. I try to learn as much as I can.”
Bowers was clutch at the front of the net as a middle hitter this season.
College Aspirations: Last week, Bowers signed her NLI to play softball at Florida SouthWestern State College, a junior college in Fort Myers, Fla. As she is the first Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the week featured who has accepted a full-ride scholarship, Bowers hopes to use the Lady Buccaneers’ program to reach her dream of being recruited by a Division I program.
“This is such a huge relief off my shoulders,” Bowers said of earning her scholarship. “My goal is to play Division I softball, and FSW is the best option to help get me there. I think I can bring my power and speed to the program and help them win a lot of games.”
Though her true passion is playing softball, Bowers is also excited to attend college to major in biology. It’s her hope to further that degree by attending medical school to become a pediatric oncologist.
“I really want to help people,” Bowers said. “I like interacting with people, and I think that by being children’s oncologist, I will be able to help save lives.”
Mentor: Each week, the RO asks its athlete of the week to explain who her mentor is. Bowers chose her parents Robbie and Shannon Bowers, as well as her travel softball coach Danny Lampley and his wife Angela.
“My parents have always been my biggest support system,” Bowers noted. “They’re always there for me in everything that I do in life, whether it’s athletics or school. They’ve influenced me to work hard for everything, and have taught me how to be successful.”
The Lampleys, who are the main reason why Richmond County has such a competitive level of softball, have worked with Bowers since she joined the Richmond Thunder travel ball team as a 10-year-old.
“Danny and Angela are the main reason why I’m playing college softball,” Bowers explained. “They’ve been through the college process and understand what it takes to be successful at that level. They both have pushed me to be a great player and believe in me.”
Player of the Week Stats: Because Bowers is in between seasons, the RO will showcase statistics from her senior volleyball season, as well as her softball season as a junior.
In volleyball this season, Bowers’ best match of the year came on Thursday, October 5, when the Lady Raiders hosted Lumberton High School. Bowers finished the night with a match-high 17 kills. She was also an important piece to the SAC champion Lady Raiders team, as her presence at the middle of the net to block shots was imperative.
As a junior in softball, Bowers hit nine homeruns and drove in 37 RBIs, which was tied for the team lead. She batted .452, and racked up 42 hits in 93 at bats. She was also second on the team in stolen bases with seven. As her senior season approaches, she hopes to bring her power and speed and give the Lady Raiders a chance to win the 4A state title.
Of the three Richmond sports you play, which one is your favorite and why?
“My favorite sport is definitely softball,” Bowers said with a grin. “Not only is it the sport I’m best at, it’s also the one that I’ve been playing the longest.
“Over the last 10 or so years, softball has been a big part of my life,” she added. “It has given me so many opportunities. I am really excited to get to play college softball and see where it takes me.”
How do you manage being a three-sport athlete and a top student?
“My time management is pretty good,” Bowers noted. “I’m definitely not a procrastinator like most high school students. I don’t allow myself to slack off; I always try to get things done quickly and to the best of my ability.”
Coaches Corner: Below are a compiled list of quotes about Bowers’ performances gathered from several of coaches.
Wendy Wallace, Richmond head softball coach: “Owen has been a game changer from the moment she stepped on the field as a ninth grader,” Wallace commented. “She works hard on the field and in the weight room. She is an integral part of our program’s success and will be a major contributor during her senior season.”
Shellie Wimpey, Richmond head volleyball coach: “Owen is a ‘gamer’ and a player who comes out strong and loves to compete.”
Danny Lampley, SEC Elite head softball coach: “From day one, Owen has always been one of the fastest players on the team,” Lampley said. “We knew she had a lot of athletic qualities, even at a young age. And that’s why we started the Thunder program; to give her and other (local) girls the opportunity to play at a higher level.”
Look for Bowers on the Richmond Observer’s flagship news program Live at 5, as she’ll be in studio for Wednesday’s edition.
