By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
On Saturday, April 6, Springfield College will induct the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame class. Established in 1972, the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame honors past student athletes for their hard work and dedication for their sport and athletics as a whole. Over 200 individuals have been chosen for the honor, with seven more being inducted Saturday. One of these individuals is Gina Gutierrez Bardua, who graduated from Springfield in 2002.
Gutierrez Bardua first stepped onto campus in 1999 as an undergraduate, pursuing a degree in Elementary Education and competing for the women’s gymnastics program. During her four years at Springfield, Gutierrez Bardua competed on the uneven bars, vault and floor exercise.
Gutierrez Bardua experienced immediate success, helping the Pride earn first place at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships. Gutierrez Bardua’s sophomore campaign saw her excel on the vault, winning an individual national title and receiving All-American honors.
Gutierrez Bardua had the support of the Springfield College community when the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NGCA) Division III National Championships were held in Blake Arena. Being able to accomplish such a feat on her home floor was amazing to Gutierrez Bardua.
“It was the proudest moment of my college career,” Gutierrez Bardua said. “Gymnastics comes with a lot of mental struggles, and that year took a lot of encouragement from teammates and from my coaches to be able to do what I did that year.”
That was only the start to Gutierrez Bardua’s career, as she helped Springfield finish in the top five at the ECAC championships four consecutive years. She received more All-American honors on the vault in her senior year, placing fifth overall at the 2002 NCGA DIII National Championships.
Looking back, Gutierrez Bardua was satisfied with how her gymnastics career turned out.
“Overall I would describe it as successful,” Gutierrez Bardua said. “I think there’s so many amazing things about it. I was All-American and a national champion on vault one year and one of my teammates is now my sister-in-law, one of my best friends all through Springfield. It’s a part of my life that I love looking back on now.”
Off the floor, Gutierrez Bardua enjoyed campus life – building long-lasting relationships, including her future husband. The two met through mutual friends their freshman year outside of the student union, which was the Beveridge Center at the time. Gutierrez Bardua still keeps in touch with her former coach, Cheryl Raymond. Every once in a while, the two will message each other back and forth.
Gutierrez Bardua graduated from Springfield College in May of 2002. She went on to receive her Master of Arts and Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.
Following her time at Stony Brook, Gutierrez Bardua took on the position as an elementary school teacher at the Brentwood Union Free School District in Long Island, N.Y.
Gutierrez Bardua has been at Northeast Elementary School for the last 15 years, serving as a first, second, and third grade teacher as well as the Intermediate Math Consultant. She is also part of a team in charge of the math and science inventory and organizes local and state exams. In addition, Gutierrez Bardua brought in a tower garden system to the school, and enjoys growing herbs and lettuce with students. Gymnastics didn’t go away though, as Gutierrez Bardua became a youth gymnastics coach.
Outside of teaching and coaching, life for Gutierrez Bardua is busy. She has two children in high school who participate in sports. Her daughter originally followed her mom’s footsteps and competed in gymnastics, but now has found her passion in volleyball. As for her son, he competes for the boys’ wrestling team and baseball team.
Despite the amount of traveling that comes with her kids’ travel seasons, Gutierrez Bardua is happy to see that athletics run deep in her family.
“I live my life for my kids and for their sports and getting them where they need to go, and I love it,” Gutierrez Bardua said.
Gutierrez Bardua has traveled back to Alden Street a few times since she graduated from Springfield. She’s attended several gymnastics meets and Homeshows with past teammates. Gutierrez Bardua was even able to see a gymnast from one of the programs she coached compete for Springfield.
Eighteen years after Gutierrez Bardua won her individual national title at Springfield College, she was back in Blake Arena to be inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame. Now, she’ll be recognized for her accomplishments again this weekend. Gutierrez Bardua shared what being inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame means to her.
“I feel honored,” Bardua said. “I’m being recognized by a place that I loved and had a successful career and called home for four years. It’s amazing being recognized by a place that meant so much to me.”
Being a student-athlete can come with challenges. Having to juggle classes and practices at the same time can create stress and can lead to poor performance. Gutierrez Bardua gave advice on how to navigate being a student athlete.
“Try not to be so hard on yourself and appreciate that you have teammates to lean on, and coaches to go to when things feel overwhelming,” Gutierrez Bardua said. “Mentally, gymnastics takes a lot out of you and you’re trying to keep up with your grades and everything else. So my biggest piece of advice is to have fun and appreciate every moment of college because it’s over so fast and then it’s real life.”
Photo courtesy of Gina Gutierrez Bardua.