A 2020 TULLAHOMA High School (THS) graduate, Macey Bowman, lives by the motto: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” As a senior at Welch College in Gallatin, Bowman is poised to lead her teammates to another victorious season. During her junior year, she served as team captain, scoring 1,000 points for the Lady Flames, achieving second in All-American and first place in All-Region, placing them in the top 10 in every ranking. “I want to do everything to the best of my ability and use the gifts the Lord has blessed me with. I never want to look back at life and wish I would have tried harder,” said Bowman. Victories during her sophomore and freshman years at Welch College include being recognized as First-Team All-Region for the NCCAA and being picked Freshman of the Year for the NCCAA in 2021.
Bowman said her love of sports began in elementary school, and while attending West Middle School, she ran track and played basketball and softball. While at THS, Bowman was the first player chosen by her coaches and teammates to wear the #22 jersey in honor of Jeff Taylor, who coached the boys basketball team before dying of cancer in 2016. Serving as team captain, Bowman led the Wildcats to substate and to play in back-to-back district champ games before snagging the All-District 8 AAA titles in 2017 and 2018. The team later won the Region 4 AAA All-Tournament Team title in 2019-2020.
“I love the adrenaline of preparing to face an opponent and executing the game plan. I love being around my teammates, who are my best friends and practically family. Every team that I have played on has always wanted the best for one another in whatever they pursue. The relationships that have been built through working hard together and competing are something I would never give up,” said Bowman. “I would encourage others to pursue what they are interested in and get out of their comfort zone by trying new things.”
Through the years, Bowman said the strong bond with her close-knit family and her coaches’ support helped her continually stretch toward her dreams. “Coach Alsup always said we had to have our ‘window of emotion,’ which means to keep yourself in check when things are not going the right way. This has always stuck with me, throughout playing and in regular life. And Coach Mac (McMurtry) always spoke about being ‘all in.’ This means whatever you choose to do, be disciplined and determined to get the job done. I’ve incorporated this mindset into everything I do. Between basketball, friendships, and school, I give 110% effort.”
Now that her senior year at Welch College has begun, Bowman said, “The hardest part is being away from family during the season because it comprises multiple practices each day and traveling each weekend to different states. I have had to learn to manage my time between going to school, being at practices and games, and completing my clinicals for nursing school. The easiest part of college has been how much I love being with my team and the memories I have made through the years. I always have a fun time at practice and games because this is my time to let stress out and enjoy the game I love.”
Back home, Bowman’s family is rooting for her, and although she loves the adventure and the adrenaline of basketball, Tullahoma is and always will be, home. “I am a huge family person, and I love being home and talking with them. They’ve always loved and supported me through good and bad times. My family is a big basketball family. My brother, Austin, plays on the boys basketball team at THS. My other brother, Colton, plays on the boys basketball team at East Middle School. My mom coaches the East Middle School girls, and my dad played college basketball for Middle Tennessee State University.”
When Bowman graduates from college with her nursing degree, she plans to return to Tullahoma, where she desires to follow in her mother’s basketball shoes and coach the girls team. But her biggest dream is to build a pediatric medical practice where she can provide the best care possible. “I want to give my patients the well-being and knowledge of health management. I hope to gain the trust of my patients and their families in my abilities to care for and educate them in health matters.” GN
