How Harper Bowman became Marion County's strongest girls weightlifter
Harper Bowman’s journey to the girls’ weightlifting state championship started years before her junior season began. As the only member of Belleview’s weightlifting team, she had big goals.
Her day mirrors her coach and father, Shawn Bowman. The personal trainer is out the door by 4:30 a.m., working with his first group of athletes. An hour and a half later, the gym belongs to the Bowmans.
“It honestly feels great,” Harper said. “It makes me feel good that all the hard work paid off. I do 6 a.m. workouts and afternoon workouts every day.”
Vote!: Decide this week's Marion County Athlete of the Week with 34 nominees to choose from
"The only option is to live your life": West Port senior wrestles through cerebral palsy
How Ocala's Torrie O'Neill: overcame severe injury to become a world jiu-jitsu champion
Shawn has worked as a personal trainer for 19 years and a massage therapist for 26 years. He has given Harper a front-row seat to athletic training her entire life.
The Bowman’s workout facility is a short walk from the family home. Harper’s interest in the sport sparked as a sixth grader. By seventh grade, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was under the bar, with Shawn coaching her through form and technique.
“I love it,” Shawn said. “I work with mostly high school kids and many baseball players. As Harper says, she grew up in the gym, so I loved it when she got into the sport, and she excelled at it.”
Lifting is a therapeutic practice for the Bowmans. If Harper can’t sleep, they’ll hit the gym together to workout what’s on her mind.
Harper’s experience is helping her lead practice along with senior Alanah Mollett. The pair became close when Mollett took Harper under her wing as a freshman. Now, the two lead the more experienced lifters in dynamic warm-ups and lifting techniques.
Shawn sticks with the beginner lifters. He builds them up through affirmations and a lifting foundation that’s as solid as iron.
“I love working with all the girls,” Shawn said. “I love working with girls who have never picked up a weight before and showing them how strong they are.”
Shawn took over the Rattler’s lifting program while Harper was in middle school. Her love for the sport complements his love for developing young athletes.
Their bond may set them up for a partnership Shawn has toiled over the last year, bringing Harper on as a coach. There’s still a year left for the right college weightlifting program to whisk her out of state.
Harper’s third-place finish is an improvement on her eighth-place finish last year. With her eyes set on improving and striving for a state championship, Harper may leave Belleview as one of its most decorated weightlifters and future coach.
“I’ll stay here until they ask me to leave,” Shawn said. “If I turn it over to them, it’s because of how much I know they love it as well.“
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Belleview's Harper Bowman love for the weight room starts at home
