Written and interviewed by Matt Queen.
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— Sean Bowering is Southern Maine Community College’s (SMCC) male student-athlete spotlight of November. At six feet, four inches tall, Bowering is a forward that stretches the court and is a sharp shooter by nature. When asked how he utilizes his skill set to contribute to the team, Bowering answered, “It’s a team game, and when the team is focusing on each other instead of the individual, that’s when winning happens.”
Bowering, in his first year, told me his experience at SMCC has opened his eyes to the career he plans to pursue in life after basketball. Bowering is a horticulture major at SMCC with a strong passion for landscaping—the goal to start his very own business one day. Enrolled in a full slate of five classes this semester, Bowering explained his commitment as a student-athlete with 3.4 GPA, “Basketball really does help out with my grades. It’s a motivation for me to sustain the commitment to the team. My professors want to see me succeed, and if I should miss class time, they are helpful to accommodate.”
A native of Englewood, Colorado, Bowering spent most of his childhood there, with a two-year stint in Rhode Island. When telling me his favorite, “Englewood is home.” Basketball his only focus at the moment, Bowering was a multi-sport athlete at Englewood High School participating in basketball, football, tennis, track and field, and rugby. “I like to be a full-time athlete, it keeps me in shape.” Bowering faced much adversity in the past few years. After high school, he suffered two separate knee injuries. This, he said, slowed him down at the beginning of this basketball season, but with determination and self-will, he overcame both the physical and mental crutch.
When speaking to Bowering about his relationship with his coaching staff and teammates, he mentioned that practice is the most important element taken very seriously. “At practices, we try to understand the application, what and why we’re doing it. The bond amongst the team is strong and the coaching staff does a great job in both managing team and player development, pushing us to get better every single day.” Bowering also spoke about the mental toughness and aggressiveness of college basketball. He believes everyone has the ability inside of them, “We get on each other at practice and this support helps bring these qualities to the surface.”
On game day, Bowering’s routine is to listen to country music to get in the right state of mind. Bowering suggested his biggest strength on the floor is shooting and emulating Ray Allen’s game as a young player. Off the court, Bowering’s biggest role model is his mother. “She does everything on her own. Not having a dad, she helps out and really does take care of me. She’s a great supporter and a hard worker.”
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