A Dribbling Star

Lauren Maciejewski | Age 17 | Elkhorn South High School

As a young girl at the age of four, Lauren’s parents can recall her running up and down the driveway dribbling a basketball both right and left handed. They recognized her talent and enrolled her in youth basketball with the YMCA and Lauren’s love of the game has only continued to grow.

Through the years, Lauren played competitive basketball with a variety of leagues: Elkhorn Elite, Omaha Sports Academy, Retro Hoops, and Crusaders. Since her freshman year of high school, she has been a member of the varsity team and has been a starter in every game since her sophomore year. Lauren averages 10 points per game, five rebounds, two steals, and is 75 percent at the free throw line. She was named a 2013 All-State Honorable Mention, 2013 All-Conference, and a 2013 Academic All-Conference basketball player for her efforts on the court.

Basketball isn’t the only sport that Lauren excels in. When not dribbling a ball on the hardwood, you can find her on the soccer field. She grew up playing competitive soccer with the Elkhorn Soccer Club. Much like her high school basketball career, Lauren has played on the varsity team since her freshman year and been a starter since her sophomore year. She was also honored with a 2013 Academic All-Conference soccer award.

Lauren is no stranger to adversity where sports are concerned. Her right shoulder has been surgically repaired three times. It began after her freshman year, she tore a muscle during a competitive summer basketball game and had to undergo surgery and rehabilitation. She was forced to sit out her fall club soccer season that year but was good to go come basketball season. Another tear requiring surgery became evident the following summer when summer basketball began and she once again missed fall club soccer moving into her junior year. And again into her senior year, she repeated the cycle. Lauren, and her parents, hope the third time is the charm and that her shoulder no longer causes her problems in the future.

When she is not busy playing the sports she loves, Lauren shines in the classroom holding a GPA of 4.2 and is in the top 10 of her class. She is an active participant in band and is the president of three student organizations: Student Council, National Honor Society, and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). In addition, she volunteers for a variety of organizations including Food Bank of the Heartland, the Salvation Army, Open Door Mission, and Red Basket. Lauren is the daughter of Chuck and Colleen Maciejewski of Elkhorn and has an older brother, Cameron.

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