Earlier this fall, SJV Girls Soccer dedicated their game to Lauren Hewski. Lauren was a
former student at SJV this past spring, but passed away due to a tragic car accident. Besides
being on the soccer team, Lauren was a friend to many different people in the SJV community.
The days leading up to the game were very emotional for everyone on the team. We are not only
playing to win this season, but we are playing to carry on her legacy by playing the sport she
truly loved. Lauren unfortunately did not get to play for SJV much due to a recurrent ACL injury.
Her presence is felt by everyone who knows her. We are playing this season for Lauren and every
season. At such young ages, all of us on the team had to deal with the loss of Lauren in different
ways. This season we just want to play for her and teach others that it’s not just about winning
games but about being a family on and off the field. The game for Lauren was very emotional for
everyone. We framed her jersey that she wore (#18) and one of the senior captain’s (Olivia
Baczor) wore number eighteen that night in honor of Lauren. All of the girls on the team also
wore her name on our wrists along with wearing orange pre wrap in our hair. That night taught
us that it’s way more than just then just a game, it’s about uniting as a program. Having all the
other athletic teams in the stands supporting us showed us what the SJV community stands for,
which is supporting each other no matter what.