Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.
Lauren Wood
NAME: Lauren Wood
PARENTS: Bryan and Amber Wood; Brian and Lisa Dwiggins
SIBLINGS: Chase 23; Nick 19; Austin 16; Ashlea 11
FAVORITE SPARE TIME ACTIVITY: Hanging out with my friends
FAVORITE FOOD: Homemade mac ‘n’ cheese
FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: Luke Bryan
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Little Mermaid
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Gossip Girl
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY WHEN YOU WERE A KID? Gloworm named Lucy
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? Electrical Engineering at Arkansas Tech
OTHER THAN YOUR PARENTS, WHO’S HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE? HOW? Margaret Sorrows for inspiring me to work hard and take pride in what I do. We produce a national award-winning yearbook.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SWIMMING? That you’re challenging yourself most of all and the team comes together to support everyone.
WHAT IS/ARE YOUR EVENT(S): Backstroke
WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO YOUR EVENTS? Imagine everyone’s reaction when you win your race.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SEASON SO FAR? I’m so incredibly proud of our team. We not only won district for the fifth year in a row, but we beat Conway and if that isn’t satisfaction enough I don’t know what is.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT TO THE SEASON SO FAR (team)? Beating Conway, definitely.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT TO THE SEASON SO FAR (personal)? Getting closer to some of the underclassmen and being a leader to them since I won’t be here to help them next year.
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE REST OF THE SEASON? Hard work and dedication. State won’t be so easy, but we got fourth last year.
TALK ABOUT YOUR SWIMMING NOW; WHAT ARE YOU MOST CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITY TO DO? Not freak out before my races. I used to get so nervous and have to go to the bathroom before I swam, now I can think about it calmly unless someone false starts and makes me fall in.
WHAT DO YOU WORK HARDEST TO IMPROVE ON IN PRACTICE? My shoulder strength, probably.
WHEN YOU’RE THROUGH SWIMMING FOR BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER MOST FONDLY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE? All the friends I’ve made. I love everyone on that team and I’m going to miss them a lot. We’ve all been through a lot and we can still come together and cheer each other on and be happy for one another and that’s amazing.
