For Bowen, the first Region 7 tournament victory of his career was another milestone in a season filled with days that start before the sun comes up.
It was Bowen's idea to start 6:45 a.m. team workouts, five days per week, during the season. It's Bowen who takes his coach's keys, opens the locker room every morning, and "runs the show," as Beirao put it.
The junior said he was nervous entering his match against Mele. But he thought of those mornings, all that hard work, all the time he has given to the sport since long before his days at Cinnaminson. He knew, if it came to it, he would be ready for a tough third period.
"I usually feel comfortable in the third period," he said. "And that comes from running every morning."
And so all it took to fill the junior completely with confidence was one early takedown. It came in the first period.
"He went to shoot in, and I just rolled back. I felt his hips go down, and I just turned him over," Bowen said of his early 2-0 lead. "It definitely took the nerves away; that helped a lot. . . .
"And that was the big thing with the pin: It mainly came down to me outmuscling him and out-conditioning him."
The win improved Bowen to 24-7. Mele ended his season at 15-5.
Bowen moves on to wrestle Friday night against Mark Papaneri (29-4) from Cherry Hill West. Papaneri beat Mele for the District 27 crown.
Bowen, who earned a trip to regions as a 106-pound freshman but didn't win a match, pointed to maturity as the biggest reason why he has an opportunity Friday night.
"That maturity was a big thing for me," he said. "It feels great to get this first region win out of the way . . . To keep this going would be great. It would definitely make everything I put into it worth it."
For Beirao, even if Bowen's season ends Friday night, it won't take away the lesson this season offers and the light it shines on all the things the coach loves about this sport.
"I'm proud of him," Beirao said. "It's just a good story to tell. You can tell kids, 'Look what he's done and how far he's come.' "
Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.
