There's a difference between being Ross Anders Bowman and Rocky Bowman.
While the former is the given name of the 17-year-old New Westminster Secondary School student, the latter is what the star lacrosse goalie is better known as.
"I was given the name Rocky by my brother Ted because he thought I looked like a rock in the ultrasound (picture)," said Rocky. "It's stuck so almost everybody knows me as Rocky."
As Rocky Bowman graduates from high school, he has a bright future ahead of him both athletically and academically.
He's just attended a camp on Vancouver Island that is rife with coaches from noted lacrosse schools like Stony Brook in New York and Mars Hill in North Carolina and soon, Rocky will be off to continue his promising lacrosse career.
"I'm trying to find the right fit," said the former Herbert Spencer and Glenbrook Middle School student. "I want to go somewhere where I'm going to play."
Both schools have New Westminster connections, as Stony Brook has benefited from both Kevin Crowley and Jordan McBride, while David Beaumont is a former teammate of Rocky's currently attending Mars Hill.
"I want to pick a school where I can win a championship," said Rocky. "I want to be a part of a successful team and a successful program."
Even as Rocky talks about his future, he's wearing a Duke University hoodie and while it's his dream to play at that North Carolina school, he is realistic that won't happen without a lot of luck.
"Duke has their pick of all the best kids," said Rocky. "I'm just a kid from the West Coast of Canada and there are so many kids who Duke can look at."
Perhaps Rocky shouldn't be selling himself short, as he helped lead NWSS to a high school field lacrosse championship in March, beating Charles Best of Coquitlam 6-5 in the final. The Hyacks got their winning goal with only 14 seconds left on the clock.
Rocky's head coach since Grade 9 has been Ken Bowman, who lives six blocks from Rocky, but even with the same name, they are not related.
"That's the first question everybody asks," said Ken with a laugh. "We're not related, but it has been quite a pleasure coaching him."
Ken said having Rocky between the pipes has made his job easy.
"He's got a great attitude and great intelligence," said Ken. "And I'm not just talking about on
the field. He's got a great outlook on life. He wants to learn, he wants to get better at everything he does."
Ken can't say enough about Rocky's leadership skills.
"He's the type of kid who looks his teammates in the eye and tells them what they have to do to succeed," said Ken. "It's his ability to lead, to communicate that sets him apart."
The compliments don't faze the 5-11, 155 pound 'keeper.
"I've always made it a dream of mine to go to the States (for school) and Ken has helped me with that goal," said Rocky. "When we talk, he tells me playing time and the right fit are so impor-tant and I have to get as much advice as I can."
That includes going to his parents Don and Yvonne.
"I think my mom wants me to stay closer to home but my dad, he just wants anything that I'm comfortable with. ... They've been my biggest supporters, as has my brother."
Ah, the brother who gave him his nickname.
"Ted, he's five years older than me and he's always helped me because he's not a goalie so he can always take shots on me," said Rocky. "He still gives me a rough time because that's what big brothers do, but he's always helped me."
Rocky has also garnered community support, as a recent charity drive at Moonrakers netted him $500 for his lacrosse costs. The pub donated $5 from every lunch sold during one recent weekday and gave that money to Rocky.
"He is a great example of how sports can help turn young people into great citizens in our community," said Moonrakers general manager Mike McKee.
As for the summer, Rocky wants to enjoy grad and in the summer, he'll start preparing for the national field lacrosse championships, to be held in Burnaby around Labour Day.
"I know I want to study business and I think at some point, I want to come back and open a lacrosse store in New Westminster," said Rocky. "New Westminster has a great lacrosse tradition and I think it would be great to open a lacrosse store here. I want to give back to the lacrosse community."
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