DALTON - Architecture or baseball?

That was the decision Bennet Gwin believed he had to make. But then along came Bowling Green and an opportunity to have both.

“It was pretty big nerves for me deciding between architecture - with the limited number of schools - and baseball,” Gwin admitted. “But going to BG I can do both. It’s the perfect fit for me.”

Interest from Bowling Green heated up at the end of 2020.

“Throughout the fall they had contact with the Warhawk coaches and that expanded into the winter,” the Dalton High School senior reflected. “We had a couple calls and then I took a visit there a couple months ago. It felt like home. I decided it was the best fit for me. They have an architecture program and to have that and do baseball is a dream I’ve had since I was a little kid.”

The ninth-rated senior catcher in Ohio was an attractive find for the Mid-American Conference baseball program.

“They mostly contacted me through my coach and through PBR,” Gwin related. “They like my defensive side of the ball, the way I block and have a consistent pop time. They thought I was a good fit to their program.”

It was fifth grade when Gwin turned into a catcher.

“I’d been a shortstop but I had a good arm and when I tried catching it was an instant love for me,” Gwin said. “I like the idea of handling the ball every play. You can see the whole field and be a team leader. That’s a huge plus for me.”

It helps the cause as well when it comes to a future in baseball once graduating from Dalton.

“Seeing a couple of kids from my high school going to play D-III ball was mind blowing for me,” Gwin explained. “That helped get me interested. But coming from a small town, I didn’t think going D-I was possible. This is a big plus for the community and the high school. I’m the only one at my school to play Division I college ball.”

An offer from West Liberty and interest from Ohio U, Tiffin and Findlay was there before Bowling Green became the school of choice.

“As soon as I stepped on campus … it was amazing,” Gwin noted about BG. “It felt like a second home for me. I could see myself going there for four years and playing baseball.”

The idea was not even in his mind not long ago.

“I was injured my sophomore year and then missed all of junior year due to covid,” Gwin said. “I didn’t think college was a reality at that point. But the Warhawks kick-started my development and I really progressed with them. Their development is amazing and helped turn me into a Division I baseball player.”

Gwin appreciates all the help he had in his journey to play at the D-I level.

“Ty Moorhead (former player with the Akron Zips) at TNM Sports helped in my comeback from surgery with finding a consistent swing after not swinging a bat for six to eight months,” Gwin said. “Ty urged me to pursue Bowling Green. He always had hope for me and believed I could play at that level.”

There were more helping hands as well.

“Brendan Mapes (Oberlin catcher from 2015-19) also helped with coaching me following a tough comeback off surgery,” Gwin said. “Going into summer ball I had little expectations, yet he saw potential and helped me to better myself as a player and young man. I also took catching lessons after summer to improve on my abilities for high school and winter with the Warhawks.”

It all paid off and now the 5-11 180-pound catcher has a future in Division I baseball.

“A good part of it was coach Adrian (Abrahamowicz),” Gwin noted. “Sending video was a different part of it since the dead period made it really hard. They couldn’t come see me work in games and I’m not a huge numbers (showcase) guy.”

But that is now all in the past, with the next stop for the 3.78 student two hours from home at BG.

“This is super exciting for all of us,” Gwin said in reference to his family, coaches, teammates and friends. “I was waiting with a lot of anxiousness for it all to come together. With sealing the deal, there’s a lot less pressure on me. I can have fun playing baseball now.”