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.”
Las Vegas Sun Standout Awards
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- Sun Standout Award: Bishop Gorman High School football team
- Game of the Year: Chaparral High School football vs. Faith Lutheran
- Rising star: Undefeated wrestler Ty Smith best underclassman
- Team of the Year: Centennial High girls basketball team
- Female Student-athlete of the Year: Guadalupe Gomez-Navarro
- Female Athlete of the Year: Boulder City's Jeanne Carmell passes her way to award
- Male Athlete of the Year: Nick Quintana had 15 home runs in 89 at-bats for Arbor View
- Male Student-athlete of the Year: Christian Ong
- Moment of the Year: Desert Oasis team manager makes most of playing time
- Coach of the Year: Clark's Chad Beeten had the winning game plan
- Support Staff of the Year: Tony Betka's work behind the scenes gets athletes to games
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