GREENSBORO, N.C. - Over the next few days, we will be recognizing our three UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team seniors that will be concluding their collegiate softball careers at the end of this season. 

Our next senior (or graduate student), Jordan Gontram, has written her name in the UNCG record book for not only her stats, but also being the longest tenure Spartan in softball history, wearing the Blue & Gold for six years. 

She earned her bachelor of science degree in business administration and will graduate this May with her masters of science in kinesiology. 

Gontram has played in 199 games, starting in 194 of them. She has averaged .243 at the plate with 129 hits and 93 runs scored. Gontram has driven in 135 RBI, which is tied for seventh in UNCG career records, and hit 18 doubles. She has crushed 49 home runs, which is second all-time in UNCG record books. Gontram has also walked 75 times, which is tied for 10th in UNCG record books.

The Wake Forest, North Carolina native was awarded the 2021 Southern Conference (SoCon) Pinnacle award and was named to the SoCon Academic All-Conference twice. She was voted to the 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District first team and was named a 2017 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. The softball team recognized her as the 2017 Rookie of the Year.

She as inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, the UNCG Golden Chain Honor Society, and is a John M. Bryan Scholar. 

Dear Softball,
 
"We're all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children's game, we just don't know when that's gonna be. Some of us are told at 18, some of us are told at 40, but we're all told." -Moneyball
 
I'm being told at 24 that it's almost time to stop playing the game that I love. When I got to UNCG, I thought I would be saying goodbye after four years. But you had other plans and gave me an extra two. I guess that was kind of thoughtful of you, even though the way you did it was less than ideal. You haven't always been kind to me. When I thought tearing one ACL and meniscus was the worst you could do, you turned around and tore the other less than a year later. You've knocked me down more times than I can count, broken my heart, and made rock bottom feel like a familiar face. But through all of the heartbreak, you showed me who I could be. And I think that person is pretty cool.
 
People always asked me why I chose to keep playing. Didn't I have enough rings? Was the pain really worth being able to continue playing a game I had already played for so long? But love can make you do some crazy things, and I fell in love with you all over again when you were taken away. I wanted more road trips with my teammates, more hitting and therapy sessions, more locker room conversations, more homerun trots, more celebrations, and more moments that just make you go 'yep, it doesn't get much better than this.' And I definitely wasn't about to go through two years of rehab and not get all of that back. So, I stuck around for a little while longer.
 
The past six years at UNCG have been everything I could have asked for and more. I have met some of my best friends and worked with some of the best coaches and support staff around. I have won SoCon championships and taken some trips to Regionals. I graduated twice. I got to play with my sister again and become inseparable. I even got to watch my parents follow along on almost every road trip and my dad claim the title of UNCG Softball Parent. I'm sure you've seen his tweets. This place has become my home and always will be. I have you to thank for that. Who knew a yellow ball and a bat would have such an impact?
 
We still have some more fun to have before I have to say goodbye. But even then, it's not really a goodbye. Only a 'see you later,' and next time it will be from the other side. Thank you again for taking me on the ride of a lifetime and introducing me to so many people that hold a special place in my heart because of you. I hope it takes us forever to run out of gas.
 
Sincerely,
Jordan Gontram #21