Spring Lake Alum Bella Baringer Reflects on Super Bowl Week

Super Bowl week is filled with bright lights, packed stadiums, and national attention—but for Spring Lake alum Bella Baringer (Leroux), the moment is rooted in something quieter: years of work, discipline, and trust in the process.

A former Spring Lake student-athlete and track & field standout, Bella understands what it takes to prepare for high-stakes moments. As she heads to the Super Bowl to support her husband, New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer, she brings with her the perspective of someone who has lived the athlete’s life herself.

“Super Bowl week brings a lot of emotion,” Bella shared. “Above all, it brings excitement and a lot of grateful-to-be-here tears. It’s not loud or overwhelming—it’s steady, emotional, and deeply earned.”

Bella credits her own athletic background with shaping how she experiences this moment. She recognizes that the biggest stages aren’t about doing something new, but about trusting habits built over time. That mindset, she says, was reinforced during her years in Spring Lake, where hard work and consistency were non-negotiables.

Those lessons now guide how she supports Bryce through long days, relentless preparation, and the sacrifices that come with professional athletics. “People often see the big moments,” she said, “but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of sacrifice from both partners every single day.”

Despite the attention surrounding Super Bowl week, Bella and Bryce stay grounded by sticking to routine and holding onto normalcy—walking the dogs, emptying the dishwasher, and taking things one day at a time.

For current Spring Lake students, Bella’s advice is simple but powerful: “Fall in love with the work. Big moments come from small, consistent choices made over time. The prize is in the journey.”

As the Spring Lake community cheers from home, Bella knows that support carries special meaning. “The community that shaped my values understands what hard work looks like—and that makes their support everything.”