SPORTS | athlete profileJacques of All TradesJacques Bowe ’10BY GEOFF GOYNESOME PEOPLE like to stay busy. Thenthere’s Jacques Bowe ’10. It’s hard to findan organization in which this <strong>2010</strong>graduate was not involved during histime at <strong>Wesley</strong>. A captain on the men’sbasketball team, Bowe was the presidentof the <strong>Wesley</strong> <strong>College</strong> Student AthleteAdvisory Council, the vice president ofthe Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), amember of the Fellowship of ChristianAthletes, a resident assistant inMalmberg Hall, a student ambassadorfor the Admissions Office, a member ofthe <strong>College</strong>’s Gospel Choir, an employeein the Office of Student Activities, vicepresident of the campus Legal Societyand a member of the AdvisoryCommittee for Legal Studies. Andthat’s just on-campus involvement.Outside of school, Bowe has beenactive in his church, the PentecostalChurch of God (PCOG) in Lincoln,Delaware; a drummer in both thePentecostal Highlights and the FutureGeneration; a member of the NationalYouth Department Planning Committeefor the PCOG; and he volunteers at theOld Manor Nursing Home in Milford,Delaware.When he first came to <strong>Wesley</strong>, Bowehad plans to play both football andbasketball. After two years of bothsports, he gave up football to focus onbasketball. “When I became an RA,playing two sports was too much,” hesaid. “That’s when I became dedicatedto improving on the court.”Head Coach Jerry Kobasa also noticedthe hard work. “When Jacques came intoour program, he was an outstandingathlete who happened to play basketball,”he recalled. Over the years, he justworked harder and harder to becomea better player.”The move paid off. After averagingonly 8.4 minutes per game and just 1.5points and an equal number of reboundsas a freshman and sophomore, Bowe hitthe gym. As a junior, he added the threepointshot to his arsenal and set careerhighs in nearly every category as a keyreserve on the Wolverines’ run to theCAC Championship and first NCAATournament appearance.But Mr. Everything wasn’t done yet.After another summer of hard work,Bowe was named one of two team captainsfor his senior year. He also emergedas a scoring threat, and his numbers inalmost every category across the boardsurpassed those of his first three seasonscombined. When injuries among teammatesstruck and he was given his firstcareer start, he didnot disappoint. Hehit five threes on hisway to a career high17 points. Boweremained in thestarting lineup forsix more games and averaged 10.9 pointsper game over that time.“Before this year, Coach [Kobasa] toldme I’d be a captain,” he said. “We wentover how I would need to take on aleadership role with the team and developeda plan with coaches. Come early,stay late.”The decision to make Bowe a captainwas an easy one for the coaching staff.“Jacques has always put the team first,”Kobasa observed. “There was never atime that it was Jacques first, teamsecond. And that’s what makes him asuccessful leader. The team knew thatwhen he said something, it had meaningand substance.”“Jacques is the kind of player that ifyou had a son, that’s who you’d want himto be like,” Kobasa continued. “He alwaysbest represented the program and theschool.”In part because of Bowe’s play, theWolverines kept rolling through theregular season and into the CACTournament, earning a trip to the finalsfor the second straight year. <strong>Wesley</strong>’s winin the CAC Semifinals was the team’s19th—a school record at the Division IIIlevel. The Wolverines fell in theconference title game, but still earnedtheir second straight NCAA berth.Among his off-campus activities,Bowe takes great pride in his volunteerism,knowing it makes a differenceto others. This is particularly true in hisrole at the Old Manor Nursing Home.“We minister to the residents and alsojust spend time with them, talking,” henoted. “Basically we just try to brightensomeone’s day while we’re there.”“There was never a time that it wasJacques first, team second. And that’swhat makes him a successful leader.”— Head Coach Jerry KobasaNow that Bowe has graduated from<strong>Wesley</strong>, he plans to attend law school andhis past endeavors have prepared him forthat path. As president of the Legal Society,he organized different events for studentsin the program, including workshops toprepare for the LSATs. In addition, as astudent representative on the AdvisoryCommittee for Legal Studies, a groupmade up largely of lawyers, judges andother legal professionals, he has gainedexposure to a professional network in thefield. In preparation for his future plans,Bowe also is doing an internship with thelaw firm of Donovan & Hopkins. Heassists in trial preparation, conductsresearch for cases, and aids in formulatingtrial strategies. He will spend this summerstudying for the LSATs and getting readyfor law school.“Jacques is the kind of worker that isalways successful,” Kobasa observed.“He is not afraid of challenges or puttingin the effort to reach any goal he sets forhimself. That’s what will make himsuccessful in the real world.” ■22 <strong>WESLEY</strong> COLLEGE :: Spring <strong>2010</strong>
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