Each Wednesday of the fall semester we'll be bringing you "Get to Know Them" profiles of current Slippery Rock student-athletes as we shine a light on who our athletes are outside of their sport. Next up, we check in with Lauren Fadden of the women’s tennis team.


QUICK BIO
A veteran of the program, Fadden has won 82 matches over her collegiate career and can boast of an impressive .647 (46-25) winning percentage in singles matches. Off the court, Fadden has been named both a PSAC Scholar Athlete and to the ITA Scholar-Athlete Team on three occasions. 

IN HER OWN WORDS
Q: Who are/were your biggest influences?
A: My biggest influence is my dad. My dad was the one who bought me my first tennis racket when I was three and got me lessons when I was five. My dad got the opportunity to play tennis in college and he wanted the same for me. He would tell me how much he loved being on a team and all the fun memories he made with his team. He encouraged me to continue to play tennis in college so that I could make those same memories with my own team. 

Q: Are you superstitious? What are some your superstitions? 
A: I am a little superstitious when it comes to big matches. I like to play on the same side of the court that I will be playing on and warmup my serve on that same side. When I play matches, I wear a special pair of green socks and I like to wear my hair in a braid and always use the same hair ties. 

Q: What’s the earliest memory you have playing your sport?
A: My earliest memory on playing tennis is when I was three or four-years old. My dad and I would play tennis in the living room with foam tennis balls. 

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have received? Who was it from?
A: The best piece of advice I have ever received is from coach Meredith. Before big matches coach will always say “believe in your ability”. This statement has gotten the team through a lot of tough matches. 

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: In 10 years I see myself being a middle school math teacher and the coach of a high school tennis team.

Q: What teammate are you closest too?
A: The person I am closest too on the team is a little obvious but, it is my little sister Lindsey. My sister and I played together in high school and I think that it is very special that we get to play college tennis together. 

Q: Favorite course at SRU so far? Why?
A: My favorite class I have taken at SRU is human diversity. My favorite part about the class was that me and four of my teammates all signed up for the same exact class and we all had no idea! The best part was that we got to do a project about tennis together and the professor loved it! 

Q: Favorite athlete of all-time? Why?
A: My favorite athlete is Roger Federer. He plays tennis in a very clam way which I admire. He makes playing tennis look easy which I think is very hard to do. 

Q: As a freshman who was the person on your team that helped you the most? How did they do it?
A: When I was a freshman the person that helped me out the most was Allie Welch. She always included the freshman in team decisions and made us all feel welcome. Allie was like a “mother” to all of the freshmen; she would text us before practice to remind us to bring a jacket in case it got cold. She even made us a packing list for our first spring break trip!

Q: Which TV game show or reality show do you think you could win?
A: Big Brother

Q: Top 3 musicians/bands?
A: Taylor Swift, The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus

Q: Top 3 movies?
A: High School Musical, High School Musical 2, High School Musical 3

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have two cats named Geoffrey and Lucy. 

Q: If you could be the absolute best in the world at any one skill or talent, what would you choose?
A: I would choose to be the best cook in the world because I would never have to go out to eat! If I was craving something to eat, I could just make it myself and make someone else clean the dishes. 

Q: Where did you go on your favorite vacation and when was it? Who did you go with?
A: My favorite vacations are when I go to Disney with my family. We have gone to Disney every year since I was five-years old. 

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