North Oconee gymnast named Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Month

Athens, Ga. (December 17, 2025) - North Oconee High School gymnast Emma Howells has been named as Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedics and Sports Medicine’s Athlete of the Month for December.

Howells’ dedication to her sport has been evident in her nearly two-year effort to rehabilitate and strengthen her ankles after significant injuries. In December 2023, she sustained bilateral ankle sprains — a grade 3 sprain with a distal fibula fracture on her left ankle and a grade 2 sprain on her right.

Her treatment plan began with several weeks in a boot before transitioning to full weight-bearing with a brace. Throughout her recovery, Howells worked daily in the North Oconee High School athletic training room, completing her rehab without reminders.

“Emma was dedicated and a hard worker from day one,” said Jamie Dukes, athletic trainer at North Oconee. “Her perseverance and positive attitude were key to her successful recovery.”

Howells continues to excel in gymnastics and inspire her teammates with her resilience. She has verbally committed to the University of Utah gymnastics team on a full athletic scholarship and plans to attend in the fall of 2027.

“The student-athletes we support show incredible resilience, overcoming major challenges to return to their sports,” said Katie Terrell, athletic trainer and outreach coordinator for Piedmont Athens Regional’s sports medicine program. “This award honors their dedication and hard work during rehab. We’re proud to partner with athletes from middle school through college, and our team of athletic trainers and therapists is committed to helping them stay healthy and perform at their best.”

As Athlete of the Month, Howells received a certificate and is now featured at the Orthopedic Sports Medicine facility on Piedmont’s Oconee Health Campus in Watkinsville, Ga.

Piedmont is proud to serve student-athletes across Georgia and is the official healthcare provider for the University of Georgia Athletic Association. For more information about services offered by Piedmont Physicians Orthopedic Sports Medicine of Athens, visit piedmont.org/AthensOrthoSportsMed.