Catching Up with USA Softball’s Lauren Gibson

When she was at , Lauren Gibson led the Cougars to back-to-back Maryland Class 4A state titles, (2007-08) while throwing no-hitters during both championship games.

of the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team for the second year in a row.

Patch caught up with Gibson to see how things are going as she enters her second season with the national team.

Pasadena Patch: Since this is your second season with the national team, what are your expectations for this year?
Lauren Gibson: It should be a lot of fun like last year and I really hope that we are as successful as last year’s team. But I'm really excited to get together with everyone again. It's always such a great time.

Pasadena Patch: What is your favorite memory from your involvement with the national team?
Gibson: My favorite memory probably was Michelle Moultrie’s birthday, which came during the Canadian Open FastPitch International Championship. I know that's kind of random, but I feel as though this is when, as a team, we really connected. Michelle’s birthday is when we all became such great friends and teammates. Since we were playing in Canada, we all got together and surprised her with a cake and everything. We all wore party hats, too. Also, I definitely have to say receiving our gold medals for the Pan American Games is a great memory.  It's such an unreal feeling to stand up on the podium while they play your National Anthem and place the medal around your neck!

Pasadena Patch: What has playing softball at the University of Tennessee been like?
Gibson: I absolutely love playing softball at the University of Tennessee! I really don't think I could have picked a better school for me. The reason I say this is because I just get along with the coaches and the girls and it’s just been such a great experience. It's been so great that time has just flown by; I can't believe I'm a junior right now.

Pasadena Patch: What is your favorite Chesapeake High School softball memory?
Gibson: My favorite memory was winning the State Championship game my sophomore year. I had a lot of friends/old teammates that were seniors that year and they deserved to leave Chesapeake with a State Championship ring.  It was just nice to know that I could help them leave Chesapeake softball with a bang.

Pasadena Patch: Do you still have family in Pasadena? How often do they make it out to see you play?
Gibson: Yes most of my family lives in Pasadena (The DENA)! My parents and my grandmother come to every game in Knoxville and any games that are somewhat close to home—when I say close I mean like nine hours or less.  My parents and my grandmother never missed a game when I was little and they still to this day try their very best not to miss any now that I’m playing with Tennessee and USA Softball.

Pasadena Patch: Where do you think you will be after you graduate? Do you plan to come back to Pasadena?
Gibson: After my undergrad I want to be a vet, so I hope to be accepted to vet school. I also hope to play for USA as long as they want me and as long as my body allows me. I’m most definitely going back to Pasadena! My family is there and I just love everything about it!

Pasadena Patch: What advice would you give to young softball players in the Pasadena community who hope to one day become as successful as you have been?
Gibson: My advice would be never stop dreaming. If you can dream it then you can make it happen. It's the most amazing feeling when I sit down and think about all the dreams I had when I was your age and how hard I worked and how much I gave up just to see all my dreams come true. Let me tell you it’s so worth it, I have no regrets. To this day I still have dreams and I'm still working hard to make those come true.  With dreaming you will have those few people that will tell you it won't happen... Don't listen; instead work as hard as possible to prove them wrong!