Dedication, hard work, and determination helped junior Reese Bowman become one of the top lacrosse players at Carlsbad High School. After many years of competing at a high level and pushing herself both on and off the field, Reese recently achieved her dreams of committing to play Division 1 lacrosse for San Diego State Aztecs.
Reese explains that her passion for lacrosse began early, but her mindset changed once she entered high school. She began dedicating more time and effort to improving her skills and thinking about her future in the sport.
“I started lacrosse my eighth grade year, but got serious my freshman year,” Bowman said. “That’s when I really decided I wanted to continue [the sport] throughout college.”
Although Bowman was determined to play at the collegiate level, the recruiting process was not easy. She explains that reaching out to schools and standing out to the coaches was one of the hardest parts.
“Some of the challenges throughout this process were definitely sending out all the emails to colleges and getting attention from coaches,” Bowman said.
Along with the recruiting process, Bowman also faced pressure from the high level of competition around her. Playing against talented athletes in both high school and club lacrosse constantly pushed her to improve.
“Competing with the other girls at this competitive level, especially in high school and throughout club, has been a challenge,” Bowman said.
Even during difficult moments, Bowman stayed focused on her long-term goal of playing Division 1 lacrosse. With many challenges along the way, she persevered, keeping her main goal in mind.
“Other challenges would be staying motivated and consistent,” Bowman said. “Sometimes it’s hard to pursue a dream of playing D1 in college, but that was definitely my main goal, so l stayed determined.”
Through every step of the journey, Bowman credited her parents for supporting her dreams and encouraging her. From attending games to making sacrifices behind the scenes, they always played a huge role in helping her succeed.
“My biggest support throughout this journey has definitely been my parents,” Bowman said. “They’ve always been like cheerleaders for me and have definitely sacrificed a lot for me to be where I am now.”
Bowman also explained that her teammates have had a big role in helping her grow as a player. Her teammates constantly motivated her to work harder and improve every day at practice and during games.
“My biggest influences have definitely been my teammates, consistently pushing me to do my best and be the best player I possibly can be,” Bowman said.
In addition to her teammates, Bowman said her coaches were also important throughout the recruiting process. They gave her opportunities to showcase her talent and compete in front of college programs.
“My coaches have definitely had an influence, giving me opportunities to push myself in front of college coaches,” Bowman said.
Looking back at her high school career so far, Bowman said some of her favorite memories came from winning championships with her team. Sharing those moments with her teammates made this experience even more meaningful.
“My favorite memory throughout my high school lacrosse experience was definitely winning CIF back-to-back over my freshman and sophomore year,” Bowman said.
