Anthony Bowie is an FHC legend; that’s a fact.
As a professional soccer player, every level of sports is important to shaping his career. From the early days of playing in the park with friends to competing in high school and college, each level of competition provided a unique opportunity to develop his skills, build character, and gain experience.
“Soccer at FHC taught me something in every season,” Bowie said. “My freshman year taught me how to adjust to playing at a higher speed of play and against much bigger players physically. My sophomore year trained me how to navigate the ups and downs of a season due to injuries and physical form. My junior season taught me to be a good teammate because I couldn’t help our team on the field due to a season-ending injury; I had to lead by example off the field and encourage my teammates. My senior year educated me on the joy of being able to play the game and not taking opportunities for granted.”
In Bowie’s senior season, he led the team to a 23-0-3 record, and they also won the state championship. Bowie scored 42 goals and passed for 23 assists, including a goal and an assist in the state final. Bowie said playing soccer in the FHC program taught him how to love the game.
“My senior year taught me the joy of being able to play the game and not taking opportunities for granted,” Bowie said. “Overall, playing soccer at FHC gave me the confidence to go and play freely at the higher levels. Off the field, I learned how to balance the demands of sports, academics, and life outside those.”
Bowie believes that without the FHC soccer program, he wouldn’t be the man he is today; he also believes that confidence is key at any level of any sport.
“Coming through the soccer program at FHC gave me plenty of confidence in my abilities and has given me lifelong friends,” Bowie said. “Confidence is key.”
Bowie declared his commitment to Western Michigan University soccer in his senior year. At the time, Bowie was a highly sought-after recruit in the state of Michigan. In fact, at the end of his senior year, he was named part of the highly- prestigious All-American team. However, when Bowie became a freshman at Western Michigan in the fall of 2016, he knew a new level of soccer was not going to be easy.
“The biggest change between soccer at any level is the speed of play,” said Bowie. “Any time you transition to a new level, whether it’s JV, varsity, college, or professional, there’s a transition period to the speed of play. The key for any player is how quickly they can adapt to the new demands physically, mentally, and technically.”
This also involves the professional level when the speed of play becomes even faster. Bowie said that at each level you go, the professionalism of each and every player becomes more prevalent.
“Other aspects that change as you get to a higher level are the professionalism of each player and the care they take in all the controllable aspects of the game,” Bowie said. “Such as taking care of your body, eating right, sleeping enough, and studying the game. Hard work is an expectation; however, it’s less of a separator because everyone has worked hard to get to that point.”
For many athletes, there is an influence in their lives that becomes a huge factor when it comes to the success that follows. For Anthony Bowie, it’s Ryan Fitzsimmons.
“I had one coach for the majority of my career, Ryan Fitzsimmons, and he helped lay the foundation of my abilities as a soccer player,” Bowie said. “He really helped me find my confidence and unlock the potential that he believed I possessed.”
Anthony Bowie is now playing for the Michigan Stars, a professional team in the NWSL.
Anthony Bowie is an FHC legend. His many accomplishments have also led him to be inducted into the FHC Athletic Hall of Fame.
