The SAAC Student-Athlete Spotlight is a weekly series that will highlight and promote senior Zag student-athletes on and off the playing field. This week's student-athlete is Lauren English, a senior on the women's rowing team.
English is a nursing major and currently holds a 3.65 GPA. She has made the Dean's List multiple semesters as well as the President's List in the fall of 2017. She an active member of the Bulldog Athletic Ministry (BAM), and she, along with her twin sister Lindey, are one of two sets of twins on the 2018-19 rowing roster. In 2016, she was named the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year, and she was also WCC All-Academic honorable mention as a sophomore and junior. English also earned CRCA National Scholar Athlete accolades in 2017 and 2018, and on the water, English was recognized by the conference in 2018 for her outstanding performances, earning All-WCC honors.
We caught up with the senior rower from Seattle, Wash., to gain some insight on her experience as a student-athlete at Gonzaga.
What attracted you to Gonzaga?
I was looking for a rowing program that allowed me to major in nursing, which was really tough to find. Gonzaga was open to letting me pursue any major I wanted, and knowing that the program cared so much about my success in rowing but also my dreams for my future career drew me here. The beautiful campus, small class sizes, and religious affiliation also helped in my decision.
What are you hoping to do with your degree post-graduation?
I am hoping to work as a registered nurse at a hospital in Seattle.
What do you enjoy most about playing this sport?
The team aspect of rowing is unlike any other sport I've ever played. You have to give up your individual identity and become unified as a boat. Being so connected with your teammates during competition and training creates such a unique bond and is a humbling experience.
What team do you most look forward to racing and why?
Notre Dame. We have raced them at the same spring regatta every year, and it is always head-to-head until the very end (and we have always come through on top!). They are a really tough and competitive team, and I am always excited for a close race. It is fun to get the opportunity to race such a big school name and stay competitive with them every year.
How has being an athlete helped you in the classroom?
It has helped me develop a strong work ethic and time management skills. I am able to manage a stressful and demanding workload because of the drive and work ethic I have learned while on the rowing team. Rowing has taught me that working hard and dedicating yourself to something leads to results, and applying that to the classroom has helped me succeed in nursing.
What is the biggest challenge as a student-athlete?
Balancing the demands of school and my sport. I want to be the best I can be as both a student and an athlete, which is hard when I have to split my time between the two. It is difficult to individually give rowing and nursing the focus and time I want since I am so busy trying to balance the two.
What is your favorite memory as a Zag?
We had an especially hard season in 2017. We were unable to use our typical practice space on the lake, and we had to give up our indoor practice space in McCarthey during the new construction. We had to row out of a vacant lot with no running water or shelter. This, along with some other difficulties made it an incredibly hard season to get through, and it left the team feeling discouraged and unsure of how we would do at the WCC Championships. At the race, we persevered and had so much drive and heart that we ended up winning. The feeling of pure joy and excitement crossing the finish line and celebrating with teammates is one I will never forget.
