By Hayden Swope
Coming off a minor injury, Lauren Swilley of Circle has been easing back into basketball while preparing to take on a leadership role.
“I had a nagging knee injury from volleyball, so I’m taking a couple of weeks to heal my body for the season,” Swilley said. “Mentally, we have spent the last couple of months doing a team book study over the power of a positive team.”
A big goal Swilley has focused on is helping her teammates grow, as well as leaving her mark on a successful program.
“We will have a lot of underclassmen this year that can help our team to grow,” Swilley said. “My goal is to make the younger players feel welcome and build team cohesiveness. I want to leave the program better than when I entered it. As a team, ultimately our goal is to win our league and go to state.”
Reflecting on last season, Swilley said her most memorable moment came after returning from injury and finally seeing the court after a long break.
“My most memorable game last year was when we played at Mulvane,” Swilley said. “I had an Achilles injury to start the season, and it was my first game back. I had to work through physical therapy and watching from the bench. It was exciting to finally rejoin my team.”
