She spends most of her time on the Bowdoin bench, and Beth Damon isn’t complaining.
By Kevin Mills
Staff Writer

BRUNSWICK – Beth Damon arrived on the Bowdoin College campus not even planning to play basketball.

Looking back, she nearly missed out on one of the greatest experiences of her young life

The Livermore native chose to give basketball one last try. It ultimately was a chance worth taking, and one that produced tremendous rewards.

“I was really lucky,” said Damon, who will be part of the Bowdoin women’s basketball team playing in Norfolk, Va., this weekend in the NCAA Division III Final Four. “I feel very lucky to be playing here. I thought I was going to run track here, but I wanted to try out for basketball. I don’t think I could be any happier playing on any other team. I’ve been extremely lucky.”

The Polar Bears made out in the deal as well. They found a player that doesn’t play much but has embraced her role and been committed to the team. Her minutes may be limited, but her presence on the Bowdoin team isn’t. Coach Stefanie Pemper says she should earn a NESCAC award for the player making the biggest contribution in the fewest minutes.

“What makes her unique is that she’s a young lady who gets no glory for the things that she does,” said Pemper. “She works hard and gets no glory or never gets into the game. From that aspect, it’s real inspiring to have someone like that in the program.”

That’s what makes this year’s success a little extra special. Damon is among a small group of seniors that have been part of some winning teams the last couple of years. To finally reach the Final Four after coming so close in previous tries, makes for the perfect ending. Unbeaten Bowdoin plays Wisconsin-Stevens Point Friday at 5 p.m. for the chance to play in Saturday’s championship game.

“We have a lot of people that have been here for a couple of years and gotten so close,” said Damon. “We have five seniors, and we’ve seen what it’s like to be so close and not get to it. We’ve gotten a taste in our mouths and not gotten to go to the Final Four.”

Damon has had plenty of experiences to share from her four years at Bowdoin. The team won the NESCAC title four straight years. She’s been part of the winningest class in school history with a 102-13 record.

The best was saved for last. In her final year, Bowdoin holds the longest winning streak in Division III (30 games) and the longest home winning streak (45 games). They’ve already set a new mark with 29 wins and have a chance to make further history in Virginia.

“It’s awesome for a couple of reasons,” said Damon. “I feel like we’ve had a really good team that could have gone in the past three years that I’ve been here. I feel that our team has such awesome chemistry, and we have such amazing players. We see that every day in practice. That chemistry and that talent, it’s nice to be able to go to the Final Four so people can see what we’ve been working so hard for.”

As a basketball player at Hebron Academy, such an experience seemed light years away. She was the MVP her senior year, but the squad was young, inexperienced and not too competitive at the Class D level.

“I was playing with people that hadn’t played a lot of ball,” said Damon, who graduated Cum Laude from Hebron and is a Sarah and James Bowdoin scholar, putting her in the highest percentage of scholars at the college. “I was playing more, but I wasn’t really satisfied playing at that level because it wasn’t all that competitive. So it made me want to play with a little more serious group of people.”

That played a role in her decision to give basketball a try at Bowdoin. She knew walking on and earning a spot on an established Division III program might be a longshot.

“I really didn’t know (what to expect),” she said. “I tried out. I played with the team. I didn’t play AAU ball. I didn’t play on a real competitive team. So I was really happy to make it.”

She’s made the best of it ever since. She doesn’t see a lot of playing time. She’s averaged six minutes per game and played in 13 of the Polar Bears contests this year. She’s chipped in when she’s been in the lineup but found herself a niche on the squad whether she’s on the court or not. She loves the camaraderie of the team and the chance to support and encourage her teammates. She shows up everyday, determined to give it her all, knowing full well she may not play much.

“I’ve just enjoyed being with the team and enjoyed being able to play basketball for four years,” said Damon. “I don’t take it as an insult that I don’t play because I know how good our team is.”

Her work ethic and commitment to the team and its players doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Everyday she reminds us how much fun we can have together,” said Pemper. “She’s just so perceptive and so intelligent and so humorous. She just exudes a love for everyone on this team and basketball and being part of this program. Nothing gets her down. Everyday, she’s happy to be here. She lifts everybody’s spirits. She’s very good for team moral.”

So as the Polar Bears compete for a National Championship this weekend, Damon may or may not see much action. She’ll still enjoy every minute and take advantage of every opportunity to relish her role and experiences.

“I think a lot of people that don’t play a lot contribute to the camaraderie and everyone is very supportive and really happy for everyone,” said Damon. “There’s a feeling that your part of the team. I love competing. I love the team, and I just think that’s what everyone brings.”