Dante Bowen selected by California Redwoods with 30th pick in 2026 PLL Draft
Syracuse shortstick defensive midfielder Dante Bowen was selected by the California Redwoods with the 30th pick in the 2026 PLL Draft. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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Syracuse short-stick defensive midfielder Dante Bowen was selected by the California Redwoods with the 30th overall pick in the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft. Bowen is expected to join SU teammate Michael Leo on the Redwoods.
Bowen, the fifth SU player selected, spent four years at Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse for his final year of eligibility. He played sparingly in his time with the Buckeyes, only making 18 appearances and causing four turnovers. He connected with fellow SU short-stick midfielder Jake Spallina while playing box lacrosse with the Orangeville Northmen, and Bowen heard about Spallina’s time with the Orange through that experience.
When SU defensive coordinator John Odierna was tasked with rebuilding the team’s short-stick unit in the offseason after Carter Rice and Nathan LeVine graduated, Spallina’s relationship with Bowen led to his transfer. Odierna said he doesn’t like adding strangers to the program, and Bowen was the lone transfer that Odierna added this past offseason.
Since he’s joined the Orange, Bowen has made a seamless transition alongside Spallina. He said it took him time to adjust to SU’s verbiage on defensive calls, but he smoothed that over within a month.
Now, Bowen’s helped replace the void Rice left at short-stick defensive midfield. He currently leads all Syracuse short-sticks with 13 ground balls and nine caused turnovers in 13 games.
