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05/31/2018 12:00 AMLauren Elmasry is an intense competitor on the tennis court. In fact, Lauren says that her teammates on the Branford girls’ tennis squad joke with her that she’s a little too competitive. However, it’s no laughing matter for Lauren—or her opponents—when it’s time to step between the baselines.
This spring, Lauren used her competitive edge to net a regular-season record of 11-5 playing No. 1 singles for the Hornets. As a result, the senior captain made the All-SCC Division II Team for the second straight year and also qualified to compete among Connecticut’s best high-school tennis players by earning a berth to the State Open Tournament.
“I’m a really competitive person. I don’t like to lose. So, I get very into it during my matches,” Lauren says. “I just take it seriously. I know if I take it seriously, I’ll be happy. After all the hard work and time I spend playing in the offseason, when I win, it makes me feel like that was all worth it.”
Lauren started playing tennis at Pine Orchard Country Club when she was five and is still a regular there throughout the summer months. She also hits the indoor courts at Madison Racquet & Swim Club during the winter in order to stay sharp. On top of that, Lauren competes in the U-18 Division of the United States Tennis Association, traveling around the state to play tournaments.
Lauren knows that playing year-round has proved huge to her success in high school. Lauren’s experience helped her earn a prominent spot in Branford’s singles lineup as a freshman, when she posted a record of 8-6 alternating between the No. 1 and 2 singles positions. In her sophomore season, Lauren primarily played in the top slot and went 11-5. As a junior, she exclusively played No. 1 and finished at 7-6.
Lauren was pleased with how she fared through her first three seasons, yet she was determined to make her last year with the Hornets her best one. Lauren accomplished that goal, and she believes the biggest difference was that she developed mental toughness when the going got rough.
“It’s important to stay positive. It’s hard when it’s really hot out, and you’re tired, and you’re playing people who hit it back every single time, and you’re playing rallies that are 20 or 30 shots long. You just have to stay positive and know that, if you lose one point, you just jump into the next one,” says Lauren, who also started for two years at right-side hitter with Branford volleyball. “A lot of times before matches, I tell my team to take it one point at a time. You can’t look at the long run and say, ‘I have to win six games.’ You have to tell yourself that you have to win the next point, and from there the next point, and, eventually, you will get there.”
Lauren’s mental fortitude was put to the test when she squared off against Lauralton Hall’s No. 1 singles player this year. Lauren won the first set, but dropped the second, and so her opponent had the momentum entering the decisive third set. In years past, Lauren might have become frustrated after squandering an opportunity to close out a win. However, as a savvy senior, Lauren brought a clear head to the third set and won it to claim a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
“I haven’t always been consistent winning third sets, but I told myself that this is my last year and that I needed to apply everything I’ve learned to this set and put my all into it. I needed to forget about the second set, come in with the mindset that it’s 0-0, a new game, and not put too much pressure on myself to win. I just had fun playing, and it turned out really well,” Lauren says. “I proved to myself that I was mentally capable of doing it and physically capable of doing it. I only lost one or two matches from that point on, and that match was really a turning point for me, especially mentally.”
Lauren’s victory helped her win post the 60-percent winning percentage that she needed to qualify for the State Open Tournament. Lauren has had her sights set on playing in the Open since the moment she arrived at the high school, and it means the world to her that she made it.
“Ever since my freshman year, I had the dream of making the individual tournament. Even though 60 percent doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s hard to get it. It’s not something you just get and then mess around in your other matches. You have to keep winning for the rest of the season, which is difficult,” Lauren says. “It makes me very proud of myself that I have matured this much and will compete in the individual tournament. It’s rewarding, because I’ve worked so hard.”
Hornets’ Head Coach Jim Cole was as proud as anyone to see Lauren advance to the Open. Along with noting her mental strength, Cole says that Lauren’s physical skill set also came a long way on the court this spring.
“Everything improved across the board,” says Cole. “Lauren’s baseline game became more consistent, and her transition from the baseline to the net when a short ball was hit to her was at a different level. We also made her second serve a priority, and that became much more consistent. It all goes into the category of understanding why she played so well this year.”
Cole adds that Lauren is the type of captain who knows just what to say to motivate her teammates.
“Lauren isn’t shy about sharing her experience with other players,” he says. “She can tell someone what they need to do without offending them, because she’s so matter-of-fact about it and so precise with what she’s saying. She’s really good about communicating her experience to other players and very generous with her time doing so.”
Lauren is also a member of the National Honor Society and Model Congress at Branford High School. This fall, she will attend the University of Maryland and study chemical engineering. While Lauren accomplished a lot with the Hornets, she’s also happy to have helped the team progress throughout her tenure. Lauren feels confident that Branford girls’ tennis is in great shape for years to come.
“My high-school career playing tennis has been a huge learning experience for me, but in the end, I was also proud of all that my teammates and I have accomplished and how much we’ve grown in the past four years,” says Lauren. “I look forward to seeing how much the will program will continue to grow in the future.”