One of the best athletes at Poway High, junior Mya McGowan recently committed to UC Berkeley on Sept. 17 for education and to play softball. Her journey started when she was five, playing for Poway Girls League Softball. She then started playing travel ball at age 12. .
“Berkeley provides the opportunity to continue softball at a high level and help my future. It was important for me to pick a school that will challenge me in the classroom and in my sport,” McGowan said.
McGowan feels supported with her coaches and players on her new college campus. McGowan’s very close friend, and catcher of 10-11 years junior Sophia Burmeister has watched McGowan become the player she is today. Burmeister describes McGowan on and off the field as “a player that never gives up and always puts in the hard work on and off the field either working on something so she can perfect it or always putting in her best effort for everything she does.”
McGowan and Burmeister have been there for each other since day one and have continued playing with each other for PHS as well. Varsity Softball coach Jim Bennett explains how much McGowan has grown since freshman year to now; “Mya has grown both offensively and pitching wise. She is becoming more selective and patient at the plate and much more disciplined. Pitching wise she is getting stronger and has a better understanding of how to set up hitters so they have to be defensive. She has really improved her first pitch strike ratio,”.
