@RazorbackSB Senior Q&A: Sierra Bronkey
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A four-year player for the Razorbacks, senior Sierra Bronkey has been a part of the University of Arkansas softball team for the past five seasons. After redshirting as a freshman in 2011, the Edmond, Okla., native has started 129 games in her Razorback career while appearing in a total of 160 contests. Bronkey is a career .255 batter and with just four more hits will tally her 100th hit as a Razorback.
During the 2015 campaign, Bronkey has played in 36 games, while starting 19 of those. In the games she has not started, Bronkey has proved to be a reliable option off the bench, leading the team with 17 pinch-hit appearances. She connected for her first home run of the season – and fifth career – in the second inning against Mississippi State April 5.
With Senior Day approaching this weekend in the series against Alabama (May 1-3), ArkansasRazorbacks.com recently sat down with Bronkey to reflect on her Cardinal and White career.
Major: Kinesiology concentrating in applied exercise science
Graduation: December 2014
Post-school aspirations: “I just got accepted into University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in their radiologic imaging program. After that, I plan to work as a radiographer technician somewhere.”
Talk about how you ended up at Arkansas: “I took my visits and Coach Bee sold me on the program, the facilities and the school. Everything felt like a perfect fit at Arkansas so that’s how I made my decision, it just seemed like the right place.”
What were your goals coming in to college? “Number one goal obviously was to get a degree which I’ve been able to do. Second goal was to play the game I love. I didn’t have any specific softball goals but I got an extra year – I’ve had some injuries along the way – and I got to play five years of the game I love with great people.”
How do you feel you have improved as a player and as a person at Arkansas? “I definitely think I’ve matured as a player and as a person. I’ve matured softball-wise in that I have just become a lot smarter as a player, whether that’s defensively or offensively. I’ve learned a lot through softball that I can apply to my life. The different adversity we’ve gone through I think it’s definitely going to help me down the road in my future jobs.”
Do you have a favorite moment at Arkansas? “Definitely my favorite moments were both regionals we went to. First Cal-Berkeley (2012) and then OU (2013). And then just the big games we’ve won along the way. Obviously all the funny memories I’ve made with my teammates, I don’t really have any specific ones but every day I get to spend with my teammates are my favorite memories.”
Favorite road trip? “I would have to say traveling to Cal-Berkeley my freshman year, for sure. That was definitely hands-down my favorite trip.”
What are you going to miss most about being a Razorback? “Being around 20-something other girls all the time and always having somebody there to have your back. Just making funny memories. We’ve had so many good times in the five years I’ve been here so I’m probably just going to miss being around my best friends every day.”
In a few words, how would you describe your time here? “Amazing, quick, and lifelong memories I’ll never forget.”
What’s something people may not know about you? “I’m a quarter Afghan. My dad (Jeff) was the first Major League Baseball player to be born in Afghanistan. Trying to think if there are any other weird things about me…”
What legacy to you hope to have left on the softball program here? “I just hope that over the years I’ve made a positive impression on at least somebody, whether it’s a teammate or a little kid. I hope people can leave here saying I’ve been a good teammate and a good friend and I somehow improved somebody’s life over the years.”
