As a rising star in the National Physique Committee bodybuilding circuit, Callie Bundy never met a challenge that she couldn’t beat as she climbs up the ranks in this popular sport.

Going back to her days as a child, Bundy has always been surrounded by sports and excelled in them in high school and college. Her background and preparation in training and playing sports have been key in the success she is currently achieving as a world-class bodybuilder.

“Sports has always been a part of my life,” Bundy said. “My father played football and basketball at the University of Connecticut, and I played in different sports in high school and college. Bodybuilding is a new sport to me, but I like it a lot and have been helped by the other sports I played  before it.”

Bundy was a three-sport athlete in high school playing soccer, basketball, and softball at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs, Conn.  She later received a softball scholarship from Quinnipiac University in 1998 and excelled while on the Quinnipiac University team where she was named captain and earned Northeast All-Conference honors. She graduated from Quinnipiac in 2001 earning a degree in business marketing with a concentration in advertising and communications. In 2002, Bundy began coaching the Quninnipiac softball team.

“Playing softball [at Quinnipiac] was a great experience for me, and I enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot and loved the competition. I even got to do some coaching for the team,” she said. “The physical training and workouts would later help me when I entered bodybuilding.”

After her stint as a collegiate coach, Bundy delved into the world of sports broadcasting.

“After Quinnipiac, I wanted to stay in sports. I enrolled in the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and was able to get many different opportunities in the field.  It was really fun experience and I enjoyed the lifestyle.”

While at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, she was mentored by former ESPN Producer Dave Zaslowsky. She was later trained by Marki Costello of Creative Management Entertainment Group (CMEG) in Los Angeles.

Bundy learned the trade quickly and worked at ESPN Radio in Bristol, Conn., and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.  In addition, she worked as a host for The Weathernews, Cablevision, RSN, Outside TV, FUEL TV, and Clear Channel.

Bundy got to see the world as a TV personality, highlighted by working as as a production assistant for ESPN Radio with Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd as well as living in Japan for a year and a half where she got to meet and work with current Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. Working with these successful people on such a grand stage was an inspiration for Bundy.

“It was great working on the radio shows of Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd,” Bundy said. “I learned a lot about the production side of radio from working on their shows. Japan was an incredible experience for me. I got to experiment with different things that we covered and how we covered it on air. I got to work with Bobby Valentine which was a lot of fun.”

Her broadcasting career gave Bundy an opportunity to be herself in front of a large audience. Coupled with that experience and her continued passion for sports, Bundy entered the bodybuilding world in September 2011 at the Flex Bikini Model Search in Las Vegas. Energized by her experience, Bundy joined the National Physique Committee amateur ranks and became a member of Team Bombshell. She is coached by Shannon Dey and Rob Rosetti.

“At first it was such an outside my realm experience. I used to be the ultimate tomboy,” Bundy said. “The Las Vegas show was enjoyable. I liked the posing and being on stage. The training is great. It is a little bit similar to my softball training. I do two a days in both sports. In softball, the focus was on strength and explosion. In bodybuilding, it is more on symmetry and proportion.”

Bundy has continued to compete during the 2012 season highlighted by first place finishes in the tall class bikini division at the Jay Cutler Classic in Boston and the Bev Francis Atlantic States in New York City. Her main mission is to become an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness professional.

“It is a great sport to compete in,” Bundy said. “I work and train very hard to be the best in it. I am a part of a great team and have great coaches. I want to keep working and competing to be able to reach the professional ranks of this sport.”