Kent State of Mind: Morgan Bowers - Finding Strength in the Struggle
4/28/2023 2:49:00 PM | Softball
Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, was an awesome experience.
It is a city with immense pride, and there is no shortage of sports and activities to be involved in.
My parents were very intentional about signing my sister and me up for everything that our community had to offer.
They wanted us to discover our passion and find something that we truly enjoyed doing.
For me, it was softball.
From the moment that I took the field for the very first time, I knew that this would be a sport that would play a pivotal role in my life.
Right from the start, I was ready to take this game to the next level.
Finding a home
When I was about 10 years old, I did just that.
I joined a travel league and began playing in games and tournaments all over the country.
I competed against some of the best players in the area and really began to gain confidence in my ability to succeed at the highest level of competition.
So much so, that I began attending college softball camps across the region. I wanted to gain exposure and learn more about potential scholarship opportunities for the future.
One stop along that journey was Kent State University.
The second that I walked in the door, I knew that I was home.
The beauty of the campus was absolutely breathtaking, the tradition of the softball program was undeniable, and I was surrounded by players and coaches who, almost instantly, felt like family.
I never missed another softball camp that Kent State held, and when the time came to commit, the decision had already been made.
I was going to play softball and study economics at the one place that had always felt right.
Immediate impact
Upon arriving at Kent State, I was fortunate enough to be in a position where I could potentially have an immediate impact on the team.
I was placed into the rotation of pitchers and even was able to make a few plate appearances very early on in the season.
I was overwhelmed with feelings of joy and excitement, but I also remember feeling an incredible sense of pride.
I was determined to make the absolute most of the opportunity that was in front of me.
And to this day, my first hit for Kent State, in particular, will be a memory I’ll never forget.
When I hit it, I didn’t realize that my ball had soared out of the park.
My first collegiate was a home run.
As I rounded those bases, it felt as though an entire lifetime of work had just paid off.
I could hear the roar of the crowd and the cheers from my teammates in the dugout and knew, at that moment, that I was right where I needed to be.
The struggle
While my time at Kent State has been an incredible blessing and filled with triumphant moments on and off the field, I have experienced my fair share of setbacks.
During my sophomore year, I endured an ankle injury that ultimately cost me the entirety of my junior season and required surgery and a five-month recovery.
Just as I was making my way back from that injury and finally ready to debut, I was sidelined yet again.
This time due to some respiratory illnesses.
I was completely devastated.
The journey back from the ankle injury was incredibly grueling.
I had meticulously gone through the rehab process and had done every single thing that was asked of me to put myself in a position to be on the field with my teammates the following year.
I could not believe that after all of that hard work, I was once again not able to go out there.
I felt as though I was not only letting myself and my family down but my teammates, as well.
At that moment, despite the level of frustration, sadness, and disappointment, I had to make a decision. I could place myself back on the field and risk my overall health or I could take a bit of a break.
That day and every day moving forward, I chose my health.
I realized that there is so much more to life than this game of softball.
I experienced more dark days in that period of time than I care to admit, but one thing that I learned is that I have always taken my health for granted up until that moment.
I had never set boundaries and always just pushed my body and mind to their absolute limits.
And to this day, I feel long-term consequences from Covid on a daily basis that limit me in a lot of activities.
I am far stronger than I ever gave myself credit for and want nothing more than to put that strength on full display for all to see.
While the future remains largely unknown, I know that I will give every ounce of my energy to being the best teammate that I can possibly be and do everything within my power to help our team achieve its goals.
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