05/09/2024
Hi, my name is Lauren Wagner and I am one of the 118 student-athletes cut by LMU Athletics.
I started running in junior high, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the sport. As I continued to progress in running, I made it my mission to run cross country and track at a Division-I institution. Competing with LMU across my chest has been the highlight of my running career.
I’m from Califon, New Jersey but LMU is my home. I started my college career at another school that turned out not to be a good fit for me. My journey to the Bluff makes me appreciate LMU even more, knowing that it almost wasn’t a part of my life. LMU gave me a second chance to live out my running dreams while pursuing what I’m passionate about in academics.
I completed my undergraduate studies last fall with a degree in Health and Human Sciences, but still had a year of athletic eligibility remaining. My issue was that LMU didn’t offer the graduate degree I wanted, so I made the difficult decision to commit to another university to finish out my athletic career and continue my studies. I was set to enroll at the new school in January 2024, but over the December holidays, the reality of no longer being a Lion hit me hard. I knew in my heart that I couldn’t leave. So I stayed, and decided to study something else while I finish out my athletic eligibility.
A lot of people thought it was difficult to come back. It was not. I have been on a number of teams over my running career, but nothing compares to the community we have built here. It’s very special, and I can’t see myself anywhere else.
But then, a couple weeks after returning to LMU, the athletic director announced the program cuts. Even after knowing that, I would still change nothing about my decision. This is where I belong. This team, Coach Curtis, Coach Pick, they’re my family. My entire running journey has led me here. And I’m prepared to put all my energy – all of my Big Cat Energy – into reinstating this program and saving my team.