C.W. Post standout softball player Kelly Geiger Bardak '96 will be inducted as a member of the C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 on March 26, 2009 at the Milleridge Inn.  

Kelly, who owns the record for career hits and runs scored, took a few moments to share her memories of being a student-athlete and playing for the Pioneers...

Why did you choose to attend C.W. Post?
I chose C.W. Post because it was far enough from home but close enough to go home!!!  Post had a friendly vibe and my teammates were exceptional!

What is your best memory as a C.W. Post student-athlete?
Best memory as a C.W. Post athlete would probably be trying to put a tarp on our softball field at midnight with teammates because we were afraid the playoffs would be rained out and we wanted to play!!  There were many more but that one always comes back to me for some reason!

What did it mean to you to put on the Green and Gold?
To put on the Green and the Gold meant PRIDE and to win the battle!

What was the greatest lesson that you still carry with you today that you learned while attending C.W. Post?
The greatest lesson that I learned and still carry today is that working hard will bring success.  Having two-a-day practices starting at 5 a.m. was rough but all the hard work put in resulted in constant success.

What was your greatest triumph while at C.W. Post?
My greatest triumph at Post was receiving a degree in Education while playing a game that I loved.  Having three out of four winning seasons was a bonus.

What piece of advice would you give to current student-athletes?
One piece of advice I would give to current student-athletes is to have fun while playing.  Preseason and the long schedule may seem like a chore at times, but that will be the best chore you ever do!!  College is the best time in your life!!  The real world can be rough at times, so live it up now.

What was the most inspirational thing your coach ever said to you?
The most inspirational thing a coach ever said to us, was when we were playing St Augustana in Florida, and the girls were literally 6-ft. tall... We had the smallest team in stature, but I remember Coach Wright saying, "We may be small in staure but we play with the biggest hearts.  Play scrappy and solid and we will succeed!"  We lost but I still remember that!

Are there any games that you played that you still remember today?
One game that sticks out in my mind is the game where my 22-game hitting streak ended.  I wasn't aware that I even had one until Bob Sugar (assistant coach) told me that morning!  Of course I choked and went 0-4! The next game of the double header I went 3-4, could have used one of those hits earlier... Good job BOB SUGAR!!!

Were there any teammates that had a personal effect on you, both on and off the field?
Teammates that had an affect on me on and off the field:   

Colleen Reilly and Cathleen Kelly - Two of the best friends a person can have!  They made playing fun and I'm still friends with them today!

Jen Lowerre - Always made me laugh, one of the funniest teammates ever!!!! Stop talking to flies!  She'll be the only one to get that!

Eileen Dwyer: Little person, great talent!

All of my teammates had an affect on me one way or another!!!