MAGGIE BUMPUS S enior Maggie Bumpus was a gymnast from the age of 6 until she graduated high school in 2010, strengthening her body and mind. Her best events were vault, bars, beam and floor, and she traveled extensively to participate in competitions. Though Bumpus traded gymnastics for a study abroad program and social time in college, she still loved the sport and taught younger girls gymnastics to continue her involvement. Though gymnastics was very rewarding in many ways, there were some high costs associated with such a significant time commitment. Not only did Bumpus practice an average of 20 hours every week, but she also competed in weekend tournaments on a regular basis. "I had practice four hours each day, five days a week," Bumpus said. "I missed out on a lot of things at school, but I had deep relationships with the other girls I practiced with because we spent all our time together." Junior Shelbi Fowler had been Maggie's friend since they were 5 years old and went to several of her competitions over the years. "She put a lot of time and effort into it," Fowler said. "She's always been very organized, and I know that was because of the time management skills she learned from gymnastics." Bumpus suffered a back injury, which motivated her to slow down and not compete in college. With so many extracurricular activities available at the university level, she decided it was time to branch out into other things besides gymnastics. "I'd done gymnastics for 12 years, and I didn't want to do four more," Bumpus said. "I wanted to do things like be involved and travel and other things that you really can only do in college, and I knew if I did gymnastics in college that I would miss out on those things." Bumpus might have stopped competing in gymnastics, but she did not stop being involved. While at Harding, Bumpus coached 7-to 12-year-olds at Gym Stars, a local gym that hosted gymnastics classes for kids. She said it was difficult to go from practicing over 20 hours a week in high school to coaching 10-15, but her experience aided her transition. "I love it because I still get to be a part of the passion that I see in the little girls, but I'm not the one that's doing all that hard work," Bumpus said. "It's nice because I know exactly how they feel when they're frustrated, or when they need a little encouragement, I know what that's like. It's cool that I get to be a part of it still." Sophomore Anna Winchester, who worked with Bumpus at Gym Stars, participated in tumbling for six years and cheerleading for 10, but she was new to coaching gymnastics. "I've never coached before, so Maggie taught me everything I know," Winchester said. "She's an excellent coach and works great with the kids and with me. All our girls really love her." Bumpus's gymnastics background established her as a good student and steward of her time; it also allowed her to share her skill and love for gymnastics with young girls new to the sport she loved by moving into a coaching position. Cole Mokry
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