Fairmont Senior's White ready to continue tumbling career at the next level

FAIRMONT — American gymnast Alicia Sacramone once said, “Anything is possible if you’re doing something you love.”

For Fairmont Senior’s Markley White, she’ll now get to take her love of acro and tumbling to the next level.

White, a senior on the Polar Bears’ cheerleading squad, recently signed her national letter of intent to continue her tumbling career next season at Fairmont State University.

While her team just came off an appearance at the Class AAA state cheerleading competition, White has been simultaneously working to sharpen her skills at Aerial Port Gymnastics, the place she says ultimately gave her her start in the sport and influenced her decision to continue at the next level.

“I grew up doing gymnastics at Aerial Port, and floor was always my favorite event because of how much I loved tumbling,” White said. “This year I decided to do cheer at Fairmont Senior where my main role in our routine was tumbling. I also wanted to get some experience on the dead mat for A&T, and it’s helped me a ton.”

With this year being her first competing on the cheerleading squad for the Polar Bears, White says it took some time to decide if she wanted to continue to tumble at the collegiate level.

However, after a positive experience at one of Fairmont State’s acro and tumbling camps, she knew that becoming part of the Falcons’ program ultimately was the right move for her future.

“At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue athletics in college, but I registered for Fairmont State’s acro and tumbling camp to see what it was like,” White said. “From the minute I walked in the door the coaches and athletes were very welcoming.

“The energy and positivity the team had made me absolutely sure I wanted to go to Fairmont State and be a part of their team.”

Although Fairmont Senior may not have accomplished their ultimate goal this year of winning a state cheerleading title, White says her fondest memories from her time as a Polar Bear as she moves into the next phase of her athletic career will always be competing with her teammates, particularly at the regional championship.

To her, the ability to compete at the highest level in both cheer and gymnastics has been nothing short of rewarding.

“My fondest memory in my high school career would be competing with my cheer team at regionals,” White said. “We worked so hard all season and performed the best we could which allowed us to move on to the state championships in Charleston.”

“Another memory I will cherish from high school is moving up to level 10 in gymnastics so I could compete my junior and senior year at the highest level.”

While she has had many influential figures in her life including coaches and teammates that have helped her advance in her tumbling career, White says she would be nowhere today without the guidance and support from her parents.

Ultimately, she says they are what helped her reach a decision on whether or not to continue to compete at the next level.

“My biggest influential figures on this decision were most definitely my parents,” White said. “They always encourage me to be the best I can possibly be and support everything I do. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

As important as it will be to put in work for the Falcons’ tumbling team, White is also eager to continue to pursue her academic career. She plans to major in psychology, a decision that she says is personal based on her own experiences as a gymnast over the years and the mental challenges that come with the sport.

“I am planning on majoring in psychology so that I can be a sports psychologist,” White said. “I have had my fair share of mental challenges throughout gymnastics, but I enjoy helping my teammates try to perform to their best ability and hope to help other athletes in the future.”