Upper Arlington's engine is up and running after recovering from two broken ankles

By Aaron Blankenship | Photos by Jack Tatum

Owen Gawel made one of his dreams come true as a junior when he became Upper Arlington’s starting point guard, overcoming the frustration of missing the majority of his sophomore season with a broken left ankle.

However, that dream quickly returned to a nightmare after Gawel suffered a broken right ankle while setting a screen during the Golden Bears’ second game of the season.

“It was a surreal, shocking moment,” Gawel said. “When I broke my left ankle, I was planting my foot to sprint in practice, and I heard a pop, and then it got to the point where I had to hop to my car after practice because I couldn’t put any weight on it. I rushed back for the last three games but I was a shell of myself because my ankle was screaming in pain and I could barely move.

“I worked hard in physical therapy to strengthen my calves and make my ankle more flexible, and I was so excited to be healthy again last year. But in overtime of our second game, I got shoved from behind, my (right) ankle made an awkward motion and I knew right away that it was the same thing again. It was déjà vu, because it was like living a dream I’d already experienced.”

As Gawel watched helplessly from the bench during the remainder of last season, the Golden Bears struggled to an 8-12 record and finished last in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division with a 1-9 league mark.

“When Owen went down, it was not a coincidence that our season went into the crapper because he’s such an important part of our team, and he’s probably the most invested player in our program in terms of what we do,” Upper Arlington coach Tim Casey said.

Even though Gawel was discouraged to have to miss the majority of his junior season, he was equally determined to return to full strength so he could play varsity basketball again.

Instead of rushing back after fracturing his right medial malleolar — nearly a year after fracturing the same bone in his left ankle — this time Gawel worked with physical therapist Eryn Simon to improve his overall strength and flexibility, rather than focusing only on his lower body.

“I went a lot slower this time around because I wanted to do it right so I didn’t just get hurt again,” Gawel said. “I started feeling really good again in the fall, and that’s when I regained my burst.”

Gawel’s patience has paid off, as he’s not only stayed healthy while starting every game at point guard this season, he’s also played a large role in helping the Golden Bears earn a 21-4 record and finish first in the OCC-Central at 7-3.

“I’m so thankful to be healthy and back on the court with my teammates,” Gawel said. “I felt like I had to prove myself because I hadn’t played much varsity basketball before this season. When we beat Hilliard Bradley (48-43 on Dec. 3), I took a huge charge with us up by four points late in the game to seal the deal, and that gave me the confidence to know I belong playing at this level.”

'Toughness and tenacity'

Gawel is known for his defense, as he often is responsible for slowing down opponents’ top scoring guards.

“Owen’s toughness and tenacity are his strengths, and defensively, he provides a lot of on-ball pressure,” Casey said. “He has a gigantic motor, and that enables him to gobble up every loose ball up and get big rebounds, because he never gets tired.”

Gawel, who was honorable mention all-league this season, leads UA with eight drawn charges.

“Owen always sacrifices his body to make plays, and when he takes a charge, it lifts everyone up and inspires us to play great defense as a team,” UA senior wing Nick Heath said.

While Gawel is averaging just 4.5 points per game, he has played a vital role in UA’s offensive success, as his slick ball-handling skills consistently beat opponents' defensive pressure and contributed to 74 assists.

Heath, who is averaging 17 points per game behind UA leading scorer Quinn Corna (18 points per game), said Gawel’s accurate passing allows his teammates to catch and shoot quickly.

“Owen always finds us when we’re open, and puts the ball right where it needs to go,” said Heath, who is a Denison University recruit. “He also sets great screens.”

Although Gawel isn’t a prolific scorer, Casey said he tends to make big shots in big moments.

While helping to limit Ohio University recruit Ajay Sheldon to 27 points in UA’s 55-48 victory over Dublin Coffman on Feb. 11, Gawel scored a career-high nine points. Sheldon had scored 38 points to lead Coffman to a 57-52 win over UA on Jan. 7.

“Owen’s a capable scorer but he gives it away, because he’s looking to do whatever it takes to win,” Casey said.

When Gawel shoots, he is highly effective, making 73 percent (53 of 73) of his field-goal attempts.

Standing just 5-foot-11, Gawel uses nifty crossover moves and unorthodox shooting angles to score against taller opponents.

Gawel learned these skills while being trained by Oliver McGlade, who played point guard at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania. McGlade also played four years of professional basketball, including starting for the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters during the 2015-16 season.

“Oliver taught me to use combo moves and hesitation moves to keep opponents off-balance,” Gawel said. “He also taught me how to make layups high off the glass and to shoot floaters, because a lot of the guys guarding me are taller than me.

“I could probably average 10 points a game if I shot the ball more, but I chose to exert more of my energy on the defensive end, because we have other guys who can score. I’m not worried about my stat line as long as we’re winning.”

'When he talks, people listen'

Casey lauded Gawel’s unselfish attitude and leadership abilities on and off the court.

“Owen’s a stabilizer,” Casey said. “When guys get emotional, he gets them in the right frame of mind. There isn’t a player in our program who doesn’t respect Owen, and when he talks, people listen.”

Gawel credits his parents, Colin Gawel and Erin McHam, with teaching him the value of teamwork.

Colin Gawel plays guitar and sings for the rock band Watershed, which was signed to Epic Records in the 1990s. He also owns and operates Colin’s Coffee, and in 2018, the store was named Upper Arlington Business of the Year. 

Colin performs and releases music as a solo artist as well, and Owen has played characters in music videos for the songs Superior and Dad Can’t Help You Now.

McHam runs her own business as a licensed professional clinical counselor.

“My parents both own their own businesses and work extremely hard, so my work ethic comes from them,” Owen said. “I’ve always been a pass-first guard, and I think that comes from them as well, because they’ve always taught me to be unselfish and a good teammate.”

Gawel plans to attend Ohio State and pursue a career in sports journalism or as a lawyer.

However, he is hoping to help UA win a championship before his basketball career is over.

The seventh-seeded Golden Bears upset fifth-seeded Newark 61-38 in a Division I district semifinal on March 2 and topped 13th-seeded Reynoldsburg 48-43 in a final on March 5, as Gawel had eight points in each victory.

UA will face Pickerington Central in a regional semifinal tonight at Ohio Dominican University. The winner will square off against Gahanna Lincoln or Westerville South in a final Saturday at Ohio Dominican.

The Golden Bears won their most recent regional title in 2014, before advancing to the state final, where they lost to Lakewood St. Edward 62-58 in overtime. UA last won a state championship in 1937.

“I’m so grateful to be a part of this team, winning OCC and district championships, because I had to mostly watch from the bench the past few years,” Gawel said. “I’m probably going to Ohio State next year, unless I were to get the opportunity to play basketball somewhere, so I want to do everything I can to help our team keep winning.

“We’ve already made it this far, so why not shoot for being state champions?”