Senior Spotlight: Chance Bowen
As someone who has been a part of the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team since 2016, Chance Bowen, a senior defensive end, has a new sense of urgency in his final season playing for the Mavericks.
“My mindset is definitely more urgent,” said Bowen. “We have literally like a month, maybe less than a month of football left, so it’s crazy.”
Bowen has been an athlete ever since he was a kid. His parents brought him up playing multiple sports, including basketball, baseball and football. As Bowen got older, football became his passion and ended up being the sport he stuck with.
Growing up in New Hope, Minn. Bowen attended high school at Armstrong, where he made a big impact within the school’s athletic department. The multi-sport athlete lettered once in both basketball and baseball. He lettered in football three times, and was named as the Northwest Suburban Conference Defensive Lineman MVP, as he helped his team to a second place finish in sections his senior year.
Bowen brought his talent to the MSU football team after graduation and made his presence known in 2018, leading the team with 11 sacks.
“College football is like 10 times faster and everyone is good,” said Bowen. “In high school, you’re one of the top guys in practice. When you get here you just see how much bigger and faster everyone is.”
The recent history of Maverick football immediately drew Bowen to MSU. After watching the national championship game in 2014, Bowen knew he was meant to play for the Mavericks.
“The history here in the recent years definitely played a part in me coming here,” said Bowen. “I went to a national championship like two years before I graduated and we had completely dominated the conference that year.”
One of Bowen’s favorite memories of being a part of the Mavericks was the 2018 snow game.
“The field was completely clear when the game started, but when we came back out after half time it was covered in snow. It was crazy,” said Bowen.
During the very little time he has away from academics and athletics, Bowen loves to watch TV shows. His favorite show is “Criminal Minds.”
As a sports management major, Bowen’s plans for after graduation include coaching. The injuries he has sustained over the years can’t get in the way of him being connected to football.
“Originally I planned to play football, but with injuries it’s looking like I’m not going to be able to do that, so I will definitely be going into coaching,” said Bowen.
Bowen hopes for the Mavericks to get back to the national championship game this season, but the game plan for now is to take it week by week and win by win.
Header Photo: Chance Bowen #98 is a defensive lineman on the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team. He’s been on the team since 2016. (Dom Bothe/The Reporter)
Write to Ali Reed at Alicia.Reed@mnsu.edu