Over half of the Albion College student body participates in one of 23 varsity sports teams on campus. The college places an emphasis on competing at a high level in the NCAA Division III while also excelling each day in the classroom.
The vast number of student-athletes on campus have a multitude of backgrounds, including many unique players that often go unnoticed. Due to COVID-19, recent decisions regarding athletics on the collegiate, conference and national levels have changed the face of sports this fall at Albion College.
In light of that and in order to truly appreciate all of the student-athletes who make up Albion athletics, The Pleiad’s “Beyond the Spotlight” series features a different athlete and the impact they have had on campus.
This Week
Featured in this week’s “Beyond the Spotlight” is women’s soccer player Courtney Lamrouex, a senior from Saginaw, Mich. Lamrouex is a political science major with a minor in anthropology and sociology. In addition to being a member of Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Alpha Delta, anthropology honors society, sociology honors society and the Ford Institute, Lamrouex is also involved in Student Senate and was the vice president in the 2019-2020 school year.
Lamrouex didn’t come to Albion for athletics. She decided even before she was on the soccer team that Albion would be her home for the next four years.
“As soon as I stepped on campus, I fell in love with the atmosphere, the community, the people, the willingness to help, everything,” said Lamrouex. “It just kinda felt like home, like it was that one feeling that I had that I knew I wanted to spend my four years here whether I play soccer or not.”
Although Lamrouex was used to being the captain and a starter on her high school team, coming into the world of collegiate sports, she did not expect to be the best player on the team.
“I was this player that wasn’t playing as much,” said Lamrouex. “At first, I struggled with it but then I kind of embraced it. I embraced being able to cheer on my team for a big game or going in for even five to ten minutes and giving my teammates a rest.”
Lamoureux believes that embracing this role contributed to the success of the team’s season.
“My biggest takeaway or advice would be to be okay with not being in the spotlight,” said Lamrouex.
During her junior year, Lamrouex suffered from a sprained ankle and achilles tendonitis that put her on crutches and in a boot, taking her out for the season.
“I was battling every day trying to get back out on that field,” said Lamrouex. “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t my season. There was no way. Every time we thought we fixed something, something else would pop up.”
Because of all fall sports being postponed to the spring due to COVID-19 and Lamrouex graduating in December, she will not get to have a senior season.
“I’m still very upset because it was my first injury and now I am not having a senior season because I will be graduating early,” said Lamrouex. “So, my sophomore season was my last season. So it’s been hard battling back and forth with the emotional rollercoaster that it has been. It was difficult and it still is.”
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