#D3week featured student-athlete: Lauren Deats, track & field

#D3week featured student-athlete: Lauren Deats, track & field

Every year, NCAA Division III institutions across the country participate in Division III Week. To celebrate this week, we will bring you a new profile every day that gives a glimpse into the life of Chapman's student-athletes.

Feature #1: Connor Williams, baseball
Feature#2: Larissa Rinauro, softball

Our series continues with senior Lauren Deats. Lauren is a school record-holder on the track in in both the 100m and 200m, as well as the anchor leg in the 4x100m relay team. The health sciences major's accomplishments reach far off the track as an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, a member of the Global Medical Brigades and a member of the American Medical Student Association. She is headed to Nursing School in the Fall although she is undecided on which one. The Huntington Beach native has been accepted to the nursing schools at Yale, Vanderbilt, Emory and Boston College's Master's of Science in Nurse Practitioner Studies program.

Why did you choose Chapman and to be a Division III student-athlete?

I chose Chapman because I loved that I would be able to compete at the collegiate level, while also receiving a top tier liberal arts education. I also liked the emphasis Chapman places on being a student first and an athlete second. I chose to be a Division III athlete because I felt it would allow me to have both the complete college experience and the opportunity to compete in the sport I love. 

How have you been able to find a balance between academics and athletics?

 I have been very fortunate to have professors and coaches that have made balancing academics and athletics as seamless as possible. My coach, Anna Wlodarczyk, has always been very supportive of my academics and of putting my schoolwork first. I like being busy and feel that my athletics have helped me to stay motivated in the classroom.

What/who was the biggest help in rehabbing and overcoming your ACL tear?

My parents have always been my biggest supporters and were definitely the biggest help with my ACL recovery. My teammates and friends were also extremely supportive throughout my entire recovery. They helped me stay positive and optimistic throughout the difficult recovery process. My physical therapist was also a great supporter and a huge reason why I am back out on the track today.

What has been the biggest benefit of being a Division III student-athlete? What are the opportunities you have been able to take advantage of at Chapman?

I think the biggest benefit of being a Division III student-athlete is that you can truly maximize your college experience. You have the opportunity to not only play a sport, but to focus on academics and to get involved with many other opportunities unique to college. At Chapman, I had the opportunity to go on the interterm travel course to New Orleans, Louisiana. We spent ten days in New Orleans exploring the city and volunteering with Rebuilding Together, an organization focused on rebuilding and repairing homes in the New Orleans area. This experience was extremely eye opening and ultimately prompted me to join Chapman's Global Medical Brigade club. This May, I will be traveling with 45 other Chapman students to Nicaragua to set up a health clinic in a medically under served community. I am greatly looking forward to this wonderful opportunity!

How has competing in a sport at Chapman helped you achieve your long term goals or set you on your desired career path?

Competing in a sport at Chapman has truly helped me grow as a person in the past four years. My ACL tear and recovery helped me learn how to deal with adversity and the importance of believing in myself. Additionally, the lessons I have learned from athletics in leadership, communication and time management, to name a few, have greatly helped to prepare me for life after college. I will be attending nurse practitioner school in the fall, so that I can pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. I believe my background in athletics will help me to be the best health care provider I can be!