Swimming is a sport built on repetition – early mornings, endless laps, and a quiet kind of determination that shows up long before the results do. For sophomore Ethan Bonow, that rhythm has become more than just a routine. Each push off the wall is done with purpose, and each stroke brings him closer to history.
Bonow’s relationship with swimming started simply. As a kid, he loved being in the water and going to pool parties with his friends. Seeing his enjoyment, his mom signed him up for a summer league where the relaxed environment allowed him to learn the fundamentals without the pressure of intense competition. It was in this summer league that his love for the sport took root.
Bonow continued to swim into high school, and when it came time for college, he had to think about what he wanted from a school. A strong swim program mattered, but so did his faith. Asbury entered the picture almost jokingly through family conversation. Nearly 1,000 miles from his hometown of Crawford, TX, it didn’t feel realistic at first. But Bonow said Jesus kept opening the door again and again, in ways he couldn’t ignore. A campus visit and meeting with Head Swim Coach Graham Duncan solidified it. Duncan’s outlook on swimming aligned with Bonow’s own. Not long after, Asbury became home.
The decision paid off quickly, as his freshman season was historic. He became the very firstAsbury student athlete to compete in an NCAA National Tournament and earn an NCAA All-American honor. Along the way, he was named an Asbury Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Bluegrass Orthopedics Athlete of the Week and Asbury Newcomer of the Year among other recognitions.
The awards piled up, but they weren’t what he was chasing. When asked if he expected that level of immediate success, Bonow said it was never his focus.
“Anything I’m doing with Jesus is successful,” said Bonow. “Attributing success to winning and getting all these accomplishments – I’m thankful for it. But ultimately, my version of success is pleasing the Lord.”
That mindset carried him into his sophomore season, where his momentum only grew. Bonow continued to dominate, earning Swimmer of the Meet at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championships. He broke the men’s 100 butterfly Asbury record, the SCAC meet record and the SCAC open record with a time of 47.36 – an achievement that reflected far more than just one race.
“The results are a testament of the hours of work that you put in before,” said Bonow. “ If they show up, if they don’t – that doesn’t diminish the work that you put in if you’re giving your best. So, I don’t lean on the results too much, but it’s comforting that they’re there, because it’s a result that’s hard to fake.”
At meets, Bonow’s focus extends beyond his own lane. Rather than staying in his head or focusing only on himself, he feeds off the energy of those around him and intentionally encourages teammates and competitors alike.
“There’s a shift when I’m about to get in the water,” said Bonow. “I get my energy by encouraging others. You’ll see me up on the blocks just before my race, patting my competitors on the back. It’s good knowing they’re gonna give everything and I’m gonna give everything.”
Once he dives in, though, everything narrows.
“I’m staring at Jesus,” said Bonow. “The line [on the bottom of the pool] makes a little T at the end, and it reminds me of the cross. Every flip I do, I’m reminded Jesus is still here. I’ve gotta lock in on Him, because swimming requires a lot of commitment. The majority of your life is spent thinking about your sport. If I waste all that time thinking about myself and not Jesus, that’s years of my life when I could have been using that time to expand Jesus as King.”
After making history last season as Asbury’s first NCAA Division-III national qualifier, Bonow will be returning again this year. His qualifying times at the SCAC Championships earned him another invitation, where he will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle, as well as the 100 butterfly.
“Last year was kind of a deer-in-headlights situation,” said Bonow. “It was insane I was even there. This year, I feel like it’s more of seeing how I can compete at a high level now that I have one year of experience under my belt.”
Looking beyond the results and records, Bonow says the most important thing for any athlete is simple: love what you do.
“Finding enjoyment in what you do is 90% the battle,” said Bonow. “I find enjoyment in the Lord through swimming. He’s given me that joyfulness. The amount of stories I’ve heard of athletes being burnt out from sports is insane.”
The next chapter of Bonow’s swimming journey will unfold at the NCAA Division-III National Tournament, which takes place on March 18- 21 in Indianapolis, IN.
