Female Student-Athlete of the Year: Guadalupe Gomez-Navarro

By Jesse Granger

Monday, May 23, 2016 | 2 a.m.

There was a long list of student-athletes worthy of this year’s Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award, but none more deserving than Guadalupe Gomez-Navarro.

The Spring Valley High senior is ranked first in her senior class of 403 students and is the runaway candidate for valedictorian with a 4.8 weighted grade-point average that includes a full schedule of Advanced Placement classes.

“I got totally choked up when I found out she won, but I’m not surprised,” said Darcy Bechtel, Spring Valley’s librarian for whom Gomez-Navarro has worked as a student aide for the past year. “She is incredibly deserving, but because she is so quiet she flies under the radar. When you see a kid like that get recognized, it’s amazing.”

Gomez-Navarro is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers as a tutor at both Spring Valley and Lawrence Junior High School — all while running track and playing on the varsity tennis team.

“It was difficult in the beginning, but through the years I’ve learned to manage my time differently, and now I don’t really struggle with juggling everything,” Gomez-Navarro said.

She is one of the top competitors in the Division 1-A Sunset division in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races, and also reached regionals in doubles tennis.

“She’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around,” said Emily Pangelinan, Gomez-Navarro’s track coach for four years. “She’s a lovely young lady who always does her best and never complains and truly gives her all in everything that she does, not just on the track.”

Gomez-Navarro is a track team captain despite her quiet and calm demeanor.

“She doesn’t have to say much,” Pangelinan said. “She gives them a look like, ‘Don’t give up,’ and keeps running. And they follow suit.”

Gomez-Navarro will continue her academic career at UNLV as a pre-nursing major, and plans to continue running and playing tennis for fun. “She’s such a solid person and is very humble,” Bechtel said. “She embodies the concept of ‘still waters run deep.’ She’s not flashy. She’s just such an intelligent and kind person.”