Aerial Port gymnast signs letter of intent to compete for the Kent State gymnastics team

Nov. 13—FAIRMONT — Four years ago, at the age of 14, Sophia Balko, of Morgantown, set her sights on getting signed by a college gymnastics team.

Having trained and competed since she was four, and having reached Level 10 in 2019 — the highest level in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Program — Balko was on a determined path. But, then tragedy struck one day during her sophomore year while doing what she described as a routine exercise at Aerial Port Gymnastics Center in Fairmont where she trains with Gary Rafaloski.

"I was doing a floor routine and it was my last class, a two-and-a half twist. I snapped the bottom of my tibia off, something called medial malleolus," Balko, who is 18 and a senior at University High in Morgantown, said. "I required two screws to be put in my ankle, and my recovery was three months, with no walking — I had a scooter. And then after that, was a lot of basics for a month."

Balko's injury meant she had to put any college gymnastics recruitment plans on pause and focus on getting healed and ready to compete again. She returned to the gym this past February as a high school junior and jumped back in to the recruiting process, which involved a number of emails and attending gymnastics camps.

Her perseverance paid off because on Sunday, Balko and her family held a ceremonial signing event at Aerial Port, surrounded by her family, her coach and cheered on by the member families and a cadre of fellow gymnasts.

She signed to compete on the Kent State University gymnastics team.

Balko said she is excited while at the same time still letting it all soak in since she signed the official Kent State letter of intent on Nov. 8.

Meanwhile, Rafaloksi described Balko's gymnastics career thus far as having had a number of peaks and valleys. He also said she has displayed invaluable leadership to the other gymnasts in overcoming her injury so swiftly.

"At that time, many gymnasts would have just hung it up, but Sophie was determined and persevered through her injury and through her rehabilitation, coming back into the gym and set her goal on competing in college," he said. "It's that perseverance and that belief in herself that has brought us to this day, where she is signing on to compete in college at Kent State University."

Balko became a student of Rafaloski's after they met after a competition, five years ago. She said after one conversation, she believed she could get the kind of personalized training she needed to achieve her long-term goal at Aerial Port. It was under Rafaloski's tutelage that she reached Level 10.

"We're so excited to see that dream come true for her because she is the hardest worker that we have in the gym," Rafaloski said. "She set a great example with positive attitude and work ethic and her perseverance to overcome her injury and to achieve her goals."

Rafaloski also praised Balko's parents for supporting the gym and all of the other students at Aerial Port.

"At this time I also would like to recognize her parents, Jill and Jason Balko, who have been so supportive of our program here and who have stood tall and have set also a great example of support for their daughter and for our program. They've been such team leaders in our parents organization," Rafaloski said to the approximately 70 attendees.

Jason Balko described his daughter as determined while also expressing genuine pride in her accomplishment.

"She's just so full of perseverance and determination," Jason Balko said. "I mean, just determination just all the life lessons that she's gotten from all the experiences over the years. It's invaluable, you know? So we're very excited for her but also so proud just how much he's grown and matured."

He also said her experience working with Rafaloski has been key to the gymnastics achievements she has made the last five years. He said Rafaloski has a certain gift for motivating students.

"He just knows how to motivate these kids and she just loves to work hard for him," Jason Balko said. "He's been doing this for many, many years and he's just one of those people that you just don't want to disappoint.

"And, you know, you see that in her. She just thinks the world of him and just looks up to him as a coach, as a person and just wants to work hard for him," he continued.

While she is in the throes of another season of gymnastics competition, Sophia Balko, said she hopes her college signing can be an example for the other gymnasts.

"I hope a little kid, can see what I did and I hope that pushes them to continue to show them that you can always get through the injuries and that they're just little setbacks," she said.

Reach Eric Cravey at 304-367-2523.