Two Morgantown gymnasts set to compete in national championship

“I’m just really excited and really grateful that I can go with my coaches and have more time with them and like prove that all the work that we put in all year long and all the years before that were worth it,” Howell said.

Howell

Bowsher

So, just how much work have these ladies put in to perfecting their craft?

“So I started at seven years old and since then I’ve been in the gym four hours a day, and four to five times a week ever since I was seven, so it’s all led up to this moment and I’m really proud of it,” Howell said.

“I’m in here basically every day practicing four hours a day, but in the end it’s worth it,” Bowsher said.

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But Bowsher and Howell didn’t get this way by themselves. Seven-year coach and owner of Aerial Port Gymnastics Center, Gary Rafaloski, told 12 News that he’s excited to be traveling with his gymnasts to this year’s national championship.

“I’m very proud, it’s not that often that we have gymnasts that make the national championship and so to have two of them; it’s double the fun,” Rafaloski said.

For any young girls aspiring to be a competitive gymnast, Howell and Bowsher both have words for you:

“If you want to do it, it’s possible and you just can’t doubt yourself. The more that you’re just like ‘I can do this, I can do this,’ you will get there eventually if you don’t give up,” Howell said.

“I used to be one of the worst people on my team, so you really just have to put in the work and if you want it, you’ll get there,” Bowsher said.

Both gymnasts will be boarding their planes on Wednesday as they fly their way out west to begin competition in the national championship on Saturday.

For more information on this year’s event, head to USAG’s website here.

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