The Bowdoin Orient

March 2, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 18

Senior Spotlight: Dave Baranowski

by MARK CHEVALIER, STAFF WRITER

   Standing 6'9" tall, weighing 270 lbs, and wearing a size 18 shoe, Dave Baranowski is by no means a small man. If his dimensions alone have not convinced you of this seemingly incontrovertible fact, merely confer with opposing NESCAC centers, who have had to cope with Baranowski's immense proportions over the better part of the last four basketball seasons. To be sure, much of these rival players and coaches are relieved that they will no longer have to contend with Bowdoin's all-time leader in blocked shots and field goal percentage.
   Baranowski's meteoric rise to NESCAC stardom did not happen overnight. In fact, the Souhegan High School (Amherst, NH) star was relegated to the bench for much of his freshmen year before exploding onto the scene for an NCAA tournament-bound Bowdoin squad the following year. During his sophomore campaign, the burly center came out of nowhere to shatter the single season Polar Bear record with 67 blocks (a record that would fall a mere year later, when Baranowski swatted away 69 shots). He also shot an impressive 61 percent from the floor, while notching 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
   Baranowski followed up his breakout sophomore season with two more years of steady and marked improvement. Over the past two seasons, he has continued to increase both his offensive and defensive production enroute to garnering back-to-back 2nd Team All-NESCAC honors.
   In the 2000-2001 campaign that has just concluded, Baranowski averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game (both team highs). He also led the team (and finished second in the nation, in fact) in field goal percentage, connecting at a very impressive 65 percent clip. However, in reality, it is impossible to measure Baranowski's contributions to Bowdoin basketball by statistics alone. Over the past few seasons, he has admirably carried the burden of being Bowdoin's proverbial go-to guy, and has invariably been forced to fight through double and even triple teams in the post. Coach Tim Gilbride offered the following about Baranowski's irreplaceable presence on the team: "Dave worked extremely hard during his tenure at Bowdoin and developed into one of the best big men in our conference. He certainly played a key role in our success. More importantly though, Dave is a friendly and kind-hearted person who never has a bad word to say about anyone. His personality and work ethic will lead him to many successes in life."
   Baranowski credits his improvement this season to the valuable experience he gained playing in the Boston Beanpot League this past summer. The league contained Division I superstars such as Boston College's Troy Bell and even a smattering of NBA hoopsters (including the ill-fated Dana Barros and the once-legendary Billy Curley). As for future plans, Baranowski-an economics major with a minor in government-is not quite ready to call it quits with his basketball career. "I'd really like to give playing in Europe a shot," he claims. "Being able to hold my own against top notch competition this summer made me believe that I may have a future playing basketball at the professional level."
   Off the court, Baranowski participates in Bears and Cubs and regularly works with youngsters from the nearby Brunswick Junior High. Though women and children tend to shriek in terror when they first encounter Baranowski's gargantuan frame, those who know him personally-as Coach Gilbride intimated-find that he is actually quite a pleasant and affable fellow.

Baranowski, genuine hoopster. (Henry Copolla/The Bowdoin Orient)