Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Aubrey Lamberti

One could argue that basketball flows through the veins of the Lamberti family. Sophomore Aubrey Lamberti’s grandfather, Tom, played basketball at Beloit College and went on to become a high school coach at Bartlett High School. Her father, Steve, also played basketball in high school and at Augustana College and followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a high school basketball coach at Plainfield Central. Growing up in a family that has the knowledge and passion for basketball like the Lambertis, Aubrey was certainly given an advantage with people close to her whom she could lean on for advice. However, Aubrey’s hard work, talent, and dedication to the game have allowed her to forge her own path, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Aubrey played several sports as a child, but she found a passion for the game early on and, by 7th grade, was playing pretty much all year round. “I enjoy the bond formed by the team and the excitement and pace of the game of basketball,” says Aubrey.

Transitioning to freshman year can be a daunting task for anyone, especially at OE with almost 3,000 students and such a large physical space. Making the basketball team is the goal of most freshmen, but Aubrey’s advanced abilities and knowledge provided her an opportunity to play on the varsity in her first year. “Coach Chandler and I recognized that Aubrey had the skills to play at the varsity level as a freshman, and we believed her knowledge of the game would allow her to learn and execute both our offensive and defensive systems,” says Head Coach Abe Carretto.

Aubrey saw significant playing time as a freshman, so despite only being a sophomore, she set a goal to improve her game and be more of a vocal teammate. “I want to be more of a leader for my team,” says Aubrey. She adds, “We have a lot of new players on the team, and I want to be a role model and help my teammates be the best version of themselves.”

Her growth has been noticeable to her coach/father, Steve, who says, “It would have been easy for her to sit back after being a freshman on the varsity and just let things happen, especially when they get tough, but she has grown as a leader both in her actions and with her voice.”

The Wolves started with a difficult stretch to open the season, falling to 0-4 in their first four games. However, they rebounded well and won the next three games straight. “I think we are passing and playing as a team much better than we did earlier in the season,” says Aubrey.

Aubrey has played well in all facets of the game, as she often rotates between all five positions. On the season, she is averaging 14 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game. “Aubrey’s length helps her on the defensive end to get deflections, steals, and rebounds, and she has utilized her height this year to improve her offensive rebounding and scoring,” says Abe.

Off the court, Aubrey has excelled in the classroom as well, earning a 4.3 GPA. Her Algebra II teacher, Miranda Zimmerman, understands how Aubrey’s work ethic and attitude have made her successful, saying, “Although Aubrey is quiet, she is very approachable and friendly; she’s really one of the sweetest kids.” She goes on to say, “I applaud Aubrey’s determination and self-advocacy. She always wants to do her best, and she knows when she needs to seek out help and what kind of questions to ask to improve. She is always prepared, engaged, and consistently performs well.”

Although only a sophomore, Aubrey has her sights set on playing basketball in college and is highly interested in the medical field, possibly as an optometrist. “I think Aubrey’s academic efforts and overall personality will serve her well as a student majoring in medicine and serving others in that field,” says Miranda.

The young Lady Wolves will look to build on their recent improvement before entering a tough SPC schedule later this month. As someone who will be counted on to be a student leader at OE for years to come, Aubrey advises future Wolves by saying, “Always work hard at everything you do because coaches will look at your grades, behavior, and attendance in the off-season when making decisions.” With hard work and building a cohesive unit that plays together, these Wolves will be tough come SPC season.