By Noah Heiing
BLUFFTON, Ohio— If you were to ask Billy Nowakowski a year ago where he thought he would be today, Bluffton University would not have been his answer.
Nowakowski, a transfer student from the University of Rio Grande, did not know he would end up at Bluffton until his orientation day. Now, Nowakowski says coming to Bluffton may have been the best decision he ever made.
In high school, Nowakowski knew he wanted to play college baseball. He worked hard to maintain good grades and earned a starting spot on the varsity roster his junior year. Not only did Nowakowski get noticed by his coaches for his work ethic, but also got noticed for his sportsmanship and good attitude. This was the push that Nowakowski needed to motivate him to go to college.
Nowakowski started his college career at Rio Grande as a wildlife conservation major and member of the baseball team. During his first year at Rio, Nowakowski tore his ulnar collateral ligament which put him on the injured list for two years. During his sophomore year, he reinjured his elbow.
Nowakowski said his injuries led to his grades slipping and he needed to overcome mental barriers to improve his motivation. In March of his sophomore year, he was cleared to play baseball.
Due to issues with his coaching staff, Nowakowski decided it was time to start looking at transferring colleges. However, his coach did not let him transfer for a year.
In January 2023 Nowakowski committed to play baseball at Penn State Great Allegheny but took a year off due to finance issues and injuries. During his year off, he continued playing baseball with a travel team. One of his teammates was Jake Baumgartner, a Bluffton University graduate student. Baumgartner encouraged Nowakowski to apply to Bluffton University. After Baumgartner’s recommendation, Nowakowski applied, got accepted and visited campus for the first time on orientation day.
“When I came to Bluffton, I had no intentions to be social,” said Nowakowski. “Now I know everybody, and some people know me that I don’t even know.”
Nowakowski, a sophomore criminal justice and social work major, is starting to get more involved on campus than he ever planned. He is a pitcher on the baseball team, a resident advisor in Ropp Hall, has applied to be a president’s ambassador and is an avid sand volleyball player.
“I’m really excited that Billy has found a home here and that he fits in with our team,” said James Grandey, head baseball coach. “That is one of the most important things about growth is that you have to be in a comfortable environment and feel confident that the people around you support you. Billy is going to continue to make an impact on our team and our campus.”
With three years of athletic eligibility due to injuries, Nowakowski hopes to graduate and become a graduate assistant and hall director at Bluffton. Nowakowski’s ultimate dream is to become a fish and game warden, which he attributes to his love of nature and his favorite show growing up “Natures Law.”
“I had to work really hard for where I am at today and I would not change a thing,” said Nowakowsk
