Varsity Jacket A Testament to Long Athletic Career

Recent graduate Lauren Fussell has played a varsity sport every season for four years. And her parents haven’t missed one game. 

Mother DeAnn Fussell said attending the games was the easy part. It was the combination of club and high school sports that sometimes made days last from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. for her daughter. 

“We knew as a very small child that Lauren was athletic,” DeAnn said in an email to Patch. “My husband and I are huge sports fans so we always watched every sport that was on TV at the time and Lauren would love to sit with us, watch, learn and she would always ask questions, like she was studying each sport and she would want to play anything and everything she could get her hands on.”

After watching more than 300 athletic events over four years, DeAnn said one of her favorite moments was Oakville’s 2010 State Championship softball season. 

Lauren had shoulder surgery that summer, so was limited to contributing as a designated hitter. One of her hits knocked in the winning run during the championship game, and she ended the season with a .340 batting average.

With the end of her senior soccer season, and last time competing for Oakville, DeAnn finished Lauren’s letterman jacket.

The coat is covered in acclamations and recognitions of Lauren’s contributions to Tiger athletics.

“We are so proud of Lauren and all of her accomplishments, keeping up with her grades and just surrounding herself with some really great friends,” DeAnn said.

Lauren, , will attend Missouri State University in the fall on a soccer scholarship.