Loyola to benefit from Zaworski's excellence

Lauren Zaworski gives a lot of her time to helping others.

When she gets to college, she will be trying to help the Loyola women's Division I softball program, which won 28 games last year (most since 2004).

The Fremd senior second baseman has signed a letter of intent to play for the Ramblers.

The Catholic school in Chicago will be adding a model high school student to its roster.

Zaworski is an avid volunteer for community needs as well as a standout student and softball player.

"In addition to being a top character kid who is a blast to be around while treating everyone with the utmost respect, and being smart as a whip, Lauren will also finish her Fremd career as one of the best, if not the best, power hitters in Fremd history," said Vikings coach Jim Weaver.

"She sets a great practice tempo for improvement and she pushes everyone around her to expect the same level of excellence from themselves."

Volunteering in the community and around the world is high priority to Lauren.

During spring break her freshman year, Zaworski went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Willow Creek Community Church. There she helped to paint a community center, clean up the neighborhood streets, and build relationships with the people of Nueva Vida, a partner church in Santo Domingo.

She has also volunteered her time with Feed My Starving Children, a program dedicated to providing food for starving people across the world.

Locally, Zaworski volunteered as an assistant volleyball coach at Little City in Palatine.

She helped teach the basic rules and skills of volleyball to the adults and enjoyed every moment she spent there.

"I have always loved helping others," she said. "It not only allows me to make someone smile who really needs it, but it also reminds me of all the blessings and opportunites I have.

"By serving others, I hope to bring glory to God and to show love to people who may be overlooked. "There are so many people hurting in our world. We obviously can't physically touch each one of these people's lives, but everyone has a story and it should be heard."

Zaworski started playing softball in the second grade, a few years after playing tee-ball at the age of 5.

"My parents signed me up for a lot of activities when I was little," she said. "They thought I should experience a little bit of everything. That way I could determine what was right for me."

Zaworski always loved softball and part of the reason was because it reminded her of family picnics and the annual "Zaworski Softball Game."

"It amazed me how far my brothers (Brian and Sean) could hit the ball and how fast they ran around the bases," she said. "I remember thinking 'OK, I want to do that!' Even now, my brothers and I will go in our backyard and hit a few."

Zaworski currently holds the Fremd single season home run record with 8 home runs in 2008. She also is listed in Fremd's top 10 for career home runs, RBI, hits, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits and walks.

"Everything about Loyola University makes me excited," said Zaworski, who plans to study nursing. "The Jesuit values, incredible nursing program and magnetic downtown atmosphere really appealed to me."

When coach Yvette Healy began recruiting her, Zaworski knew right away that Loyola would be her future college.

"When I would go to the clinics at Loyola, I was immediately impressed by the grace and confidence the coaches upheld and expected from the players," Zaworski said. "I feel very blessed that I am able to be a part of that atmosphere."

An excellent athlete, Zaworski also played volleyball her freshman year and basketball her freshman and sophomore year.

She was selected to the Dundee-Crown Basketball all-tournament team her sophomore year.

Zaworski is a member of Viking Ambassadors at Fremd and has been on the "A honor roll every semester of high school.

She has been named an Illinois State Scholar and has been published in A Celebration of Poets by Creative Communications.

She attends Uprising, a student-led ministry before school and has been nominated for the Viking Homecoming Rose Arbor her freshman and senior years.

Last spring, Zaworski hit .366 with a homer, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 31 RBI and 25 walks as Fremd finished in third place in the Class 4A state final in Eats Peoria.

"Lauren is a true blue-chip recruit who turned down multiple Big Ten and Big East offers to compete for the Ramblers," Healy said. "While her offensive power, size and speed are her greatest athletic assets, her leadership maturity, determination and competitiveness separate Lauren from her peers.

"She is an extremely intelligent student-athlete, who will undoubtedly succeed in the classroom as well as on the field. We expect Lauren to make an immediate impact and help take the Loyola program to the next level."