PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles senior Tyler Bowen worked hard for this, overcoming those who doubted his size, his will and his efforts at trying to turn around the Roughriders football team.
Bowen signed a letter of intent to play football for NCAA Division III University of Puget Sound on Friday during an online ceremony attended virtually by coaches, teammates and family members, likely the first-ever such signing ceremony on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The senior played a number of different positions for Port Angeles in four years on the Riders’ varsity — wide receiver, quarterback and running back on offense and cornerback and safety on defense. He earned first-team All-Olympic League honors last fall at safety.
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Bowen also was a stalwart in center field for the Port Angeles baseball team, which won Olympic League titles the last two seasons and claimed a district title last spring.
“I really can’t believe all of it, ” Bowen said of reaching his signing day. I’ve been playing ball my whole life and I don’t ever want to stop.”
“I’m super proud of myself. I’ve been playing with a little chip on my shoulder my whole life, being smaller than everybody. But now I’ve got the confidence and I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Port Angeles teacher and assistant coach Daniel Horton coached Bowen for all four high school seasons, and witnessed him become a team leader.
“His growth and maturity the last few years, kids gravitate toward him,” Horton said. “That only got stronger as he got older, younger kids would flock to him, they wanted to be like him, run routes like him, backpeddle like him. It’s been kind of amazing watching the progression from a kid who earned his place on varsity as a freshman to a respected team leader. He never lost his competitive edge, but he gained more leadership skills.”
Horton said he and Bowen have talked about the similarities in joining the Port Angeles and Puget Sound programs as a freshman.
“He will have to start from the bottom again but he knows nothing is going to be given to him,” Horton said. “He’s not the biggest or fastest athlete and doesn’t come from the biggest school, but he has the work ethic and if he puts in the time he can get where he wants to be.”
Bowen hopes to be seeing a lot of passes coming his way as an inside slot receiver in Puget Sound head coach Jeff Thomas’ version of the Air Raid offense.
The offensive system was one of the factors that aided Bowen in choosing the school.
“I liked it because it is pretty close to home, not too far away and the class sizes are not too big,” Bowen said. “They have a really good business program there. I have a lot of family in Tacoma and I want my family to be able to watch all my games. Their offensive scheme fits how I like to play.”
Bowen said he’s been participating in weekly meetings online and beginning to learn the new system.
“They are focusing on trying to work out as much as we can,” Bowen said. “Run routes if we can get outside or throw the ball around. For me, they want me to keep perfecting my routes and learning the new terminology.”
Reflecting on his high-school career, Bowen pointed out a pair of his fondest memories.
“Winning the district championship for baseball and the league titles is the best memory,” Bowen said. “And our last football game against North Mason last season, we won it in the last second and it was awesome to walk off the field as a winner.”
Bowen had plenty of people to thank for helping him reach this moment.
“All my youth football coaches, especially Kelly Flanagan, he’s who taught me that hard work pays off and I have been living by that ever since,” Bowen said. “My middle school coaches, eighth grade year built my confidence up because we went undefeated. Anybody who has ever coached me in any sport. And the biggest thanks goes to my mom [Kimberly Springfield]. She has kept me on track, kept me focused with school and always has been my biggest supporter.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.