Thursday, February 13, 2025
31 °
Mostly Cloudy

Senior Spotlight

Posted

Lauren Loesl

Pacelli

Lauren Loesl’s senior season is one to remember, finishing runner-up for the WIAA tennis doubles championship with teammate Natalie Cooper after starting the tournament as a sixth seed, winning four matches, including upsetting the third-seeded team from Saint Thomas More.

Lauren credits her father, Richard Loesl, for introducing her to tennis at eight years old, which she feels she will play for many years, “My favorite part about tennis is the fact that it is a team sport but also an individual sport at the same time. Even if my team does not succeed, I still can. I also love that each point and every shot you make can have many different outcomes. I love that you think about each shot and decide the placement and spin you want on the ball, making it hard for the opponent to have a good return. Lastly, tennis is a sport you can play throughout your life. Whether that means hitting with your friends or signing up for an adult league. One of my goals is to continue playing tennis throughout my life.”

Lauren had to choose tennis or volleyball as her fall sport, but focusing on tennis has benefited her.

“It feels good. The amount of blood, sweat, and tears I have put into tennis and taking second at state feels so good. Looking back at my freshman and sophomore years, I can tell how much patience and control I have gained, along with the skills that have gotten me where I am today. I am just overall happy with this outcome and am glad this is how I ended my senior year.”

Lauren is no stranger to the hours you have to put in to be successful both on the court and in class, “As a freshman, my classes were fairly easy, and I was just trying to get used to high school and what I want to do in my future.

Throughout high school, I started getting more involved by joining more clubs and extracurricular activities, narrowing down what I wanted to do in my future, so it naturally got tougher to balance tennis and school because I had more on my plate. Fortunately, my teachers were very understanding and supportive, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have late nights trying to study or getting my homework done.”

Looking at tennis analytically, Lauren can adjust in the middle of a match,” My biggest asset is the way I analyze. Every single shot I hit I am thinking about how and where I should hit it. When I lose a point I think about what I did wrong and how to change it for next time. I also love to incorporate different patterns into my play, like hitting the ball cross-court, and then down the line. Because of how I analyze each shot, I get into my opponent’s head. It can be hard for them to predict my next shot and that is a major asset.”

Lauren values the coaches and teammates who helped her earn her achievements this season, “I would like to thank my club coach Jean Luetschwager, who taught me everything I know. She has been a constant source of support throughout my tennis life. I would not be here without her knowledge and skills and how she shaped me into the player I am today. I would also like to thank Natalie Cooper for putting up with me all these years and being the best doubles partner ever.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here