“Winning together and being together through losses — the community you build through sports — is important to me. And we have great coaches.”

We recently caught up with senior Lauren Wright, a member of the varsity basketball team who has been playing the sport since elementary school and will play at American University in Washington, D.C., next year.

“I enjoy the competitive aspect, and the team environment at Loomis,” Lauren said. “Off the court we are always talking and we’re good friends, but in practice we have that competitive environment where you can go at each other, and at the end of the day we’re all still friends. Winning together and being together through losses — the community you build through sports — is important to me. And we have great coaches.”

Are you a UConn women’s basketball fan? “I am. Everyone in Connecticut has to be,” she says with a laugh. “But, yeah, I am. I like the program. I like the team this year. I loved Paige Bueckers and everything, but I like Azzi Fudd, I like Sarah Strong. I think their dynamic is really good. And UConn is crazy good this year.” Bueckers, along with Fudd and Strong, helped lead UConn to a national title last season and went on to win WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. This season Fudd and Strong are averaging about 36 points between them.
 

Year: Senior

Hometown: South Glastonbury, Conn.

Clubs/activities: Varsity girls basketball, tour guide, Sister Circle, Day for Girls Club, LC Young Women’s Group.

Is there a class or homework assignment that has stood out for you: “I don’t necessarily have favorite classes, but I have had teachers that have made classes really good for me.” She took Advanced Precalculus/Differential Calculus with Nicole Bowen as a sophomore, which led her this year to take College-Level Multivariable Calculus because Nicole is the teacher. “She makes class fun and wants to know you as a person. I just like her class because of who she is as a person, but also she cares a lot about math and teaching us and wanting us to understand.”

What lesson has basketball taught you? “About continuing to have confidence no matter what happens. You will have a bad practice or game, but not letting that affect how you see yourself as a person. And that translates to other things. If you do [poorly] on a test, that doesn't define you. Trust in how you do things, how much work you put in, and don't let one bad outcome deter you.”

Favorite place on campus? Second floor of Brush Library, where she does school work in the company of friends. “There’s a calmness there.”

On being a tour guide: “She says she enjoys the role because she gets to meet new people and talk about the “really cool parts of the school.”

Favorite meal? “Everyone calls me a picky eater, but I don’t think I am.” Top of the list: Pizza, Hawaiian rolls, chicken tenders.

If you could have a robot do anything for you, what would it be? Braid her hair. “When I get these braids done, it takes forever, so if [a robot] could do it in 30 minutes, I'd be cool with that.” Her most recent braids took about four hours.

What three things would you bring to a deserted island? “Unfortunately, I’d probably bring my phone. I’d probably bring a charger, so that takes up two. Guess I'll be smart and bring some water.” Where would she charge her phone on a deserted island? “I’m going to make some makeshift electrical source. I’ll look it up on my phone how to make it,” she says with a laugh.

If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be? “I’d say [comedian] Kevin Hart, just because he’s funny.”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? “I’d like to know every language, including being able to talk with animals.”