University of Minnesota Athletics
Catching up with Lauren Miller
4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
MINNEAPOLIS - The Gopher Rowing team returned this week from the Clemson Invitational, the last stop on the schedule before next month's Big Ten Championships in Indianapolis. GopherSports.com caught up with senior captain Lauren Miller to look back on her college career, look forward to her post-competition days, and the end of the spring season.
GopherSports.com: When you look back on your career, what would you say are your biggest areas of growth as a rower? What are some areas you still feel you can improve upon?
Lauren Miller: I feel my biggest area of growth has been my mindset. In high school and my early college career, I was very fixated on achievement and outcomes, instead of enjoying the process of learning and growth. I have learned the importance of enjoying each moment and the connections made along the way. My mindset is still an area I want to continue to improve, as the skills I have learned from rowing are applicable to all other facets of my life.
GS: How have you seen your role with the team changed this season as a senior and a captain?
LM: I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to lead as team captain with this group of girls. Over the course of this season, rather than fixating on my own performance, I find myself putting most of my energy into the team. I've found that celebrating the success of my teammates and supporting them in and out of the boathouse to be an incredibly rewarding experience.
GS: What's your favorite memory of competing for Gopher Rowing?
LM: Each winter break, the team travels to San Diego, California for our training trip. This past winter break, we made a lot of improvements as a team and had the opportunity to spend more time with each other outside of practices. That trip especially was a great way to become closer as a team before competition season started.
GS: What are your personal goals for the rest of the spring season? How far can this team go?
LM: I have some of my own personal goals, but this year I have been especially focused on helping this team be the best it can be. I love seeing my teammates break their own personal records or finally figure out technical changes out on the water. This group of hard-working women has the by far the best attitude and work ethic this program has seen in a long time. I am confident that if we continue to use the momentum from this year, we will continue to see increased improvements in performance in coming years.
GS: What are your post-college plans? How do you see your experience on the team shaping your future?
LM: Immediately following graduation, I am planning to try to train for the national team. I still have a long way to go as an athlete, and I want work on my development both mentally and physically to see where it could take me. After a year (or more?) of training full time, I will be going back to school to pursue a career in the medical field. My experience on this team has cultivated my interest in exercise physiology, nutrition, and sports psychology. As a neuroscience major, there is a lot of overlap with the sports sciences, and I hope to find a career where I can continue my involvement in these fields. Eventually, I am planning on attending medical school to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery or sport neuropsychology.
GS: What's the biggest lesson you've learned while participating in collegiate athletics?
LM: This sport has taught me the importance of enjoying the moment. Especially in rowing, it is easy to fall into the trap of fixating on results or your standing on the team. Instead, I have learned to enjoy the process by relishing improvement in not only myself, but also in my teammates. For me, supporting teammates in their successes and failures provides more satisfaction than I would find in my experience alone.
GS: Do you have any advice to someone who might be interested in starting with the sport of rowing?
LM: At the beginning of my freshman year, I had no intention of competing in athletics on a collegiate level, let alone at a Big Ten, Division I school. I happened to run into the coach at the Welcome Week activity fair and tried out for the team. Five years later, I can say with complete sincerity that joining this team was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It is never easy, but this sport rewards hard work and commitment. You will find friendships and experiences that you will cherish for a lifetime.
GS: What are some of your favorite things to do outside of competition?
LM: I really enjoy travelling and experiencing new places. I love meeting new people and making new connections. In my free time, I spend a lot of time drinking coffee, drawing, and reading.
Stay up to date with all Gopher Rowing news by following the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via the links provided, or get all Minnesota Golden Gopher athletics news and highlights, including exclusive behind-the-scenes content and special ticket offers and promotions delivered straight to your inbox by signing up today!
Players Mentioned
