Q&A With Swimming's Lauren Patterson
Dec 6, 2004 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Dec. 6, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Last season, Lauren Patterson was part of the rebirth of the Tulane swimming program. A highly decorated backstroker from Shreveport. La., Patterson came to the Green Wave with an impressive resume that included three Louisiana All-Star honors and four consecutive state 100-yard backstroke titles.
A shoulder injury and subsequent surgery sidelined her for the entire 2003-04 season, but Patterson is back in the pool for the 2004-05 season and has already made her presence felt as her ability has helped the Green Wave roll out to a 9-1 dual meet record and a win at last week's 2004 Giant Eagle Zips Invitational.
Patterson recently sat down with Tulane Athletics Assistant Media Relations Director Richie Weaver to discuss her year off, as well as several other topics. Below is what transpired:
What is your most memorable experience for you so far as a Tulane student-athlete?
It was during the conference meet last year. It was the first time I had been in a big competition as a team, and I could not participate because I had had surgery earlier in the year. It was very inspiring to watch. It really made me want to get back in the pool to train for the team, and it really made me ready for this year.
How has being a Tulane student-athlete helped or changed you?
It has made me a stronger person. It made me more dedicated to the sport. As a student-athlete, you don't get to do the all things a regular student gets to do. You don't get to go out all the time during the week. It's harder to schedule your classes with practice times. You have to focus on things a lot more since swimming is so time consuming. It's funny to hear people talk about having to take a 9 a.m. class. They say, "It's so early." I kind of joke and say, "if you only knew."
What is your major here at Tulane?
Exercise science. Swimming got me interested in it. I was in rehab and physical therapy so much, it really sparked my interest.
How is the shoulder?
It wasn't as bad as we thought it was. It was an ongoing injury for maybe three years before I got here. I had been to the doctors a few times, and they never really told me what it was. I would take a break from swimming and it would get better. Then, I'd get back to practice and it would gradually come back.
After watching the team achieve the success it did last year, how hard was it for you to not be a part of it?
It definitely was one of the harder things I've had to do. I wanted to be a part of it so much and help the team out in so many ways. It's hard when there's only 15 girls on the team, and only 14 of them can swim. I would watch other people swim my events, and I would think about how I would do it.
I'm glad I got to watch, though. It made me a lot more aware of what was going on and taught me a lot.
So you were able to take something positive out of it?
It helped a lot with this year. I don't come in not knowing anything about what's going on, and I have the experience of last year - just watching it and learning it. But I still have the eligibility of a freshman.
What is your favorite book?
Catcher In The Rye was a very good book. It was required reading, but I was really entertained by it.
What is your favorite on-campus activity?
I guess it would be eating at Bruff. It's either practice, class, eating or sleeping, and I enjoy eating.
If you could play any other sport at Tulane, regardless of ability, what would it be?
Football. We did the football drills last year to become better athletes, and it seemed like a lot of fun. I can throw the ball pretty well. I think I could be a quarterback!
What are your plans after graduation?
Either go to physical therapy school, or become a trainer - either at a school or with a professional team.
What was the last concert you went to?
Incubus. It was last month at the Lakefront Arena. It was the second time I saw them live and it was really good.
Why did you chose Tulane?
It's a very good academic school. Being from Louisiana, I had always looked at Tulane as a possibility, and when they started up the swimming program, it was even more of an opportunity for me. That, honestly, appealed to me a lot. To be part of a first-year program and start some history for the school, it seemed like a very good opportunity.
Do you have a personal philosophy that you live by?
Have fun with everything. If you can have fun with everything, it makes it that much easier. When I was younger, I was taught that if I had a bad race and get really down about it and dwell on it, you wont' have fun anymore and then you don't swim well. Then, as soon as you do have fun again, everything gets easier and it's more enjoyable.
What has been a Tulane student-athlete taught you that you might not have otherwise learned?
Things are not always as bad as they seem. Last year, when I found out I had to have surgery, it was almost mind blowing. II didn't expect it, I didn't want it to happen, and I didn't want to have to sit out a year. But I learned a lot from it, and a lot of good things came out of something that could have been bad.
Who influenced your athletic career the most?
My club coach, Butch Jordan. I swam for him for 12 years, and he was always really confident in me. He trusted me, and always thought I had a lot of talent. He pushed me to do well.
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Have fun. Like I said earlier, that's been a major way of life for me.
What class would you recommend to others?
I really liked psychology. It's interesting and you learn a lot about things that will help you later on. You can learn to tell if someone is lying or not, how people act the way they do. It's funny and it's good to know. They teach you how to read people, why you remember some things and forget others. It was really interesting.
What is your favorite movie?
Big Daddy. It's funny. I don't really like deep movies. I'd rather watch a comedy.
Who is your favorite actor?
Probably Adam Sandler. He's really fun and he makes me laugh.
What cartoon character most resembles you?
We don't really compare each other to cartoon characters, but we do compare each other to animals.
Which animal do they say you are?
A poodle, because I have curly hair. That, and they say I like attention a lot.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken. Any kind.
What is your dream vacation destination?
Italy. I went there my senior year of high school for 10 days and I loved it. I got sick while I was there, and didn't get to see Rome. I have family there and it's so beautiful. I really like Florence a lot, but I'd like to go back to Rome and see the Sistine Chapel and all of that again because I got to see it for something like two seconds and had to leave.
If you could have dinner with any three people in history, who would they be?
Charles Dicken. It would be interesting to hear him tell stories. Mother Theresa because she is very inspiring. And my great grandmother, Nellie Ropollo. She passed away when I was young, and I spent a lot of time there when I was little and I miss her a lot. She was always very entertaining and made all of us laugh.
Who is your favorite teacher?
Ms. Clements. She was my chemistry teacher for two years in high school. I had her for Chemistry I and Chemistry II, and she made it a lot of fun. She always kept things interesting and really got me interested in chemistry.
What is the most important community service you have done?
I've done a lot of community service, but when I was in chuch, we used to teach Sunday School classes to mentally disabled people, and it was very interesting experience. It made me feel helpful, but sad at the same time. They were always very interested in it, but they don't really understand it, and that made me want to help them even more. It was nice to actually be able to give them that experience though. I did it withmy church all throughout high school.
Who is your favorite pro team?
The Saints, I guess. I'm from Louisiana, so I guess you kind of have to pull for them.
Who is your favorite pro athlete?
Michael Phelps. He's young, and so successful, and he's got a great attitude about it. He know's he's fast, but he doesn't put that out there on the table for everyone to see, with the exception of all the ads he has out there. He's good, but he works hard and trains hard for what he has.
Are there any people you would like to thank?
My parents, for getting me into the sport to begin with. Both of my sisters were important to me as well, especially my older sister, Robyn. If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't be swimming right now. She swam at UL-Monroe and really inspired me through my surgery. She had surgery on her hip as a sophomore in high school, and was able to swim through that, and that was a big thing. I'd also like to thank my club coach, Butch, for teaching me everything I know about swimming, and Coach Irle, for giving me opportunity to be in college as a Division I swimmer. It was the best thing I could have ever dreamed of.
Players Mentioned
