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Blue Chip Bowers Pivots, Joins Decorated Texas Class

by Rhiannon Potkey, 23 February 2024

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Ashton Bowers (WTN: 11.9) was as surprised as everyone else when she heard about the sudden firing of Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley and resignation of assistant coach Megan Falcon.

The blue chip senior from Alpharetta, Georgia had committed to Auburn early in her recruiting process and never expected to be pondering a change this late in the game.

Blue Chip Ashton Bowers Has Signed with Texas
© Contributed Photo

“The coaches, especially Caroline, were a very big reason why I chose Auburn,” she said. “Obviously, it’s an amazing program and I love the girls, but I just felt she could really develop my game and we were both really excited to work together.”

Bowers was released from her National Letter of Intent and decided to re-open her recruiting process. First, she needed some time to process the change before speaking with other coaches.

Her phone and email were filled with messages of interest, and she eventually conducted calls with her top 15 schools. She scheduled two visits, first heading to UCLA and then to Texas.

After her trip to Austin, Bowers knew Texas was the right fit.

“I think the way they run their program was huge for me,” Bowers said. “It was nothing against UCLA. I love their program. I just think Texas is really hungry to win an NCAA title right now and I think they have the ability to do that. I also think the coaches are really interested in my game and what my goals and dreams are.”

Texas’ recruiting class was already ranked No. 1 even before Bowers joined. Her addition gives the Longhorns three blue chips, along with Maya Joint and Ariana Pursoo.

“Maya and I have known each other since we were 10 years old and are best friends, so I am really looking forward to being teammates with her and Ariana too,” Bowers said. “It’s crazy that Maya and I grew up playing tournaments together and now we are going to college together.”

Bowers was born in Bloomington, Illinois. Her older brother, Tyler, started playing tennis and Bowers got “really jealous” and wanted to start playing as well. Although tennis wasn’t her favorite sport at first, she stopped competing in soccer and cross country by the sixth grade to prioritize tennis.

Bowers moved to the Atlanta area right before starting high school so she could have more competition and better players to practice with more regularly.

“There are a lot of amazing girls and guys to hit with. It’s been really nice,” Bowers said. “My coach (Edina Gallovits-Hall) has changed quite a few of my strokes, including my forehand, so I really give the credit to her.”

Bowers has aspirations to play professional tennis, but she always wanted to play for a college program.

“I was never really that person who thought I might just go pro right away,” said Bowers, who plans to major in finance. ‘My game has really developed, so I have gone through a lot of stages to change strokes and get my feet wet with junior ITFs.”

Bowers had a chance to watch Tyler go through the college recruiting process before he signed with the University of Illinois, where he is a redshirt freshman this season.

Bowers is No. 1 in Georgia on the Babolat Recruiting List
© Contributed Photo

“My brother and I have a good relationship. It’s always been competitive because we fight over who had more trophies and medals,” she said. “We would practice together occasionally because there were not many to hit with. But we are just so competitive that it made it really hard to work. But now that we are more mature, we can practice together and work on things and not fight.”

Bowers enjoys spending time with family and friends when she’s not on the court. Her family has a boat it takes to the lakes during the summer.

Bowers graduated from high school in December and is taking this semester off to focus on tennis and play some pro events. Although she planned to arrive at Auburn in the summer, she won’t be heading to Texas until the fall.

It’s another unexpected change in a whirlwind few weeks filled with them.

“My parents talked to me and said maybe it’s best and everything happens for a reason,” Bowers said. “It stinks that I didn’t get to play for Auburn, but I have a great future ahead of me at Texas. I am really excited.”

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two
decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many
sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories.
Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national
events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches.
Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You
can reach Rhiannon by email at
[email protected].