Bowe’s Division 1 baseball dreams have come to light

Surrounded by his family, Warren Bowe (center) signed his Letter of Intent, Nov. 19, to play Division 1 baseball at St. Thomas University. Bowe will finish out his senior year at Cadott, before starting his college career as a Tommie. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

It’s not often a kid from a small town in west central Wisconsin gets to play Division 1 baseball, but that’s what has happened for Cadott senior Warren Bowe. Bowe signed his Letter of Intent Nov. 13, to play for the University of St. Thomas, in Minnesota.

Bowe has many accolades under his belt, not just in baseball – which includes the West Cloverbelt Conference Player of the Year and a member of the Babe Ruth World Series team that took third place – but also in other sports.

“What many of us don’t see, is the time and dedication, and training Warren puts in outside the walls of this school,” said Cadott athletic director Zack Sirny.

Less than 2 percent of high school athletes go on to play at a Division 1 level, while that figure is just 1 percent when it comes to baseball. Bowe didn’t just get lucky, as he made sure, every day, that he was tracking his sleep and nutrition, and not goofing off in the weight room.

Coaches and teachers alike, know that Bowe is a good leader, who makes other athletes better.

“If you work hard, you can be successful,” said Sirny. “Work as hard as you can and success will come.”

Bowe feels that his time growing into a star athlete has taught him how to play through adversity and get through it.

“It’s been a lot of growing, a lot of advice given,” he said. When making the choice to attend St. Thomas, Bowe knew it was the right decision when he saw them win their conference championship, so he committed the next day. Not only is it not too far from home, so his family and community can still support him, but he also likes that St. Thomas ranks high in academics.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Bowe.

Before he becomes a Tommie, Bowe has plans to travel to New York, this coming summer, playing for the East Coast version of the Eau Claire Express.

Although Bowe has a way to go, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could, one day, make it to the major leagues. That goal is something he wants youth to shoot for, as they look up to the older athletes, no matter what school they attend.

“It’s always fun showing the younger kids, that it’s possible,” said Bowe.