Senior Spotlight: Morgan Bowles
February 25, 2023 | Gymnastics
Growing up in Las Vegas, Morgan Bowles tried out just about every sport as a kid before stumbling upon gymnastics. Bowles committed to gymnastics at the age of five when she began training at Browns Gymnastics, where she stayed for the rest of her club career.
In middle school was when she started to seriously consider trying to get a college scholarship to do gymnastics – wanting it both for herself and for her parents.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
During her four years at Washington, Bowles has earned a career-high 9.875 on bars and a 9.825 on beam that she has earned on two occasions. Bowles has been a consistent member of the beam lineup this season, competing in all but two meets.
BEFORE WASHINGTON
Bowles' grandfather, who she never met, attended the University of Washington, which was a significant reason for her initial interest in the school.
Having family and family friends scattered throughout the state, Bowles felt comfortable making the trek from Vegas to Seattle to begin her college career.
An avid lover of the rain, she was excited to experience a new place – captivated by the gorgeous UW campus and impressive athletics.
DYNAMIC CULTURE OF THE GYMDAWGS
The culture of the Divine 49 squad this season has been huge for Bowles, who noted how coaches Jen Llewellyn and Cody Llewellyn have come in to the program and impacted the culture in such a positive way.
The preseason team retreat in particular was an exceptional opportunity for the team to connect off the gym floor – in a way that wouldn't be possible without some vulnerability from the coaching staff and gymnasts alike.
"We got to know things that we wouldn't necessarily have ever known about each other at the team retreats," Bowles said. "We did some activities focused on vulnerability that really broke down our walls and led us to open up with each other on a whole new level."
Having coaches who were open as well contributes greatly to the team culture, not only providing a space for the gymnasts to be vulnerable, but for the coaches to get personal and see each other on a deeper level.
"Jen, Cody, and Jeffrey (Langenstein) provided us with an environment to truly be ourselves on the retreat, and each and every day when we come into practice," Bowles said.
We're excited to follow your post-gymnastics journey ??#GoHuskies x #Unleashed pic.twitter.com/icCzTXSL0q
— Washington Gymnastics (@UWGymnastics) February 25, 2023
PSYCHOLOGY AND SPORT – LOOKING AHEAD
Bowles will be earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology come graduation this year. She plans on using that degree to help people as best she can, with hopes of working with children in the near future.
She will be moving to Honolulu, Hawaii after finishing her career at UW, as she has been offered a position as a life coach and mentor for children. This job, Bowles said, is the perfect stepping stone for her as she will make use of this next year to figure out in what realm she would like to utilize her psychology degree.
"I'd love to work in child psychology or social work," Bowles mentioned. "I see myself pursuing something super fulfilling where I'd get the opportunity to impact the lives of others. That would fill me up, and that's ultimately what I'll end up doing in one way or another."
COMPETING AT UW
For Bowles, whatever event she is good at at the time is her favorite event to compete. Beam, however, has remained a consistent favorite, as she appreciates the challenge of balancing on the four-inch apparatus and simultaneously putting on a performance.
Prior to UW, just as most gymnasts do during their club gymnastics careers, Bowles trained on every event, but due to a back condition that put her in a back brace for a few months, she began to limit her training.
When the back brace was removed, Bowles was told that the injury would never fully heal. With that unforeseen news, she decided to focus her training on bars and beam, knowing that those would be the two events she would focus on at Washington anyway.
"I haven't done floor or vault since my sophomore year of high school, which is weird to think about," Bowles admitted. "But it saved my body."
She hasn't had any serious injuries during her time at Washington, thankfully, but her body is definitely looking forward to enduring less intense workouts once her gymnastics career concludes.
ADVICE TO FRESHMAN YEAR SELF
"Let yourself shine and stop being so crazy," Bowles said, with a laugh.
She reflected on being much more high-strung her first year at Washington and looking back, would encourage her younger self to not be so hard on herself and enjoy the process.
If it weren't for all the lows – the bad practices or the failures she's had – she wouldn't be the person and gymnast she is today, Bowles said.
"Enjoy the process, because you are way better than you think you are," Bowles said, to her younger self. "Gymnastics comes to an end, so just enjoy it while you can."
A FUTURE WITHOUT GYMNASTICS
The transition from being on a team to not having that collective culture will definitely be an adjustment for Bowles. Very appreciative of all the friendships she's gained and life lessons she's learned from the sport, adjusting to not having a built-in family every single day will inevitably be a challenge.
"I've been part of a team my whole life, so I have no idea what it's like to not be part of a team," Bowles said. "I'll have to work to figure that one out. This next year is going to be a self-love journey."
And although a lifetime of flipping on bars and balancing on beams is quickly nearing a close, for Bowles the end doesn't quite feel real yet.
"We have such a special team dynamic, and that just can't be replaced," Bowles said. "What I'll miss most is just being able to be in the gym with my best friends every day; always having people who are genuinely rooting for you around you."
Players Mentioned
