Rowdy Rustler Roundup - Lauren Gavrailoff

Sport: Women’s Basketball

What year(s) did you compete for Lakeland:  2006-2008

How did playing for the Rustlers help you get to where you are today?

Well to start, student-athletes are almost always competitive and have the unique opportunity to be leaders.  Embracing both in my career has manifested into a lot of learning, growth, and opportunity.  

I also think my first 2 years of post-secondary were more manageable because of the small class sizes and support of the professors at Lakeland.  Basketball provided structure and student-athlete life provided the confidence that I could accomplish my academic goals as well.  It wasn’t easy, but it taught me balance and resilience early on, which has since helped me both personally and professionally. 

Thanks to my early success at Lakeland, I went on to the University of Manitoba and graduated with Honors and as Valedictorian, became a Certified Athletic Therapist, and now a corporate business leader.  It took courage and dedication to get here, but I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t learned how capable I was in these formative years.

Where are you working right now and what are you doing?  

I work for Össur, an international company based out of Iceland devoted to improving people's mobility. We are a medical industry leader in non-invasive Orthopedics, offering prosthetic and bracing/support solutions (think artificial limbs and knee braces, for example).  

My current role is a Global Product Manager, and I've been lucky enough to work for the company in both Vancouver and California for over 8 years. I feel fulfilled at work because my values are in line with my job and our products keep people active!

Are you still involved with basketball now?  Coaching/ playing etc.

I love basketball and will always be involved. I coached (Assistant) for 2 years at Douglas College (PacWest) in New Westminster, BC from 2012-2014.  I play in the Strathcona Women's League in Vancouver. During COVID, I shoot around at the outdoor courts. Basketball is life!

What was your favorite moment at Lakeland as a student-athlete?

It must have been the team dynamics and the dorm-life. I had the best roommates in my 2nd year and all 8 of us are still friends today!  I also have fond memories working as a Residence Assistant, late nights studying in the library, and (as tough as they were) 5 am practices in winter.  

The first time I ever travelled to BC was with Lakeland WBB for a tournament, I saw the mountains and knew I had to move to Vancouver as soon as I graduated!  Lastly, the support from the school and community. I worked hard and was rewarded as a Student-Athlete of the year and with scholarships and honorariums.

Are you still close with any former teammates?

Yes! A few of my teammates were also my roommates for 2 years at Lakeland and we keep in touch! We have visited each other's hometowns, attended weddings, and try to connect at least once a year in person. Most of my other teammates and I follow each other via social media, and we get to see each other starting families, businesses, etc.  Even if we haven't spoken in ages, we cheer each other on as our lives unfold. Stay connected with these folks and keep your Basketball network strong!

If you could give a couple of words of advice to our current Rustlers what would it be?

I'll start with an example of why I ended up at Lakeland. On my own accord, I contacted Kevin, my head coach about a scholarship. I could have waited for someone to call, but I didn’t. I was proactive in taking the steps to achieve my goal of going to school on a Basketball scholarship and it paid off.  

So, if you have a dream/goal, map out the steps on how to get there and (more importantly) take action. It might mean hitting the gym before class, getting your shots up at lunch, staying in on the weekends to study, or having a pre-game routine. If you want to be successful, be consistent, be committed, have a vision, and go get it!

Any additional words of wisdom?

Playing at Lakeland meant moving away from home, which taught me the importance of connection. Invest in people (your family and your college family), no one is meant to do this alone.  

Apply for scholarships, it takes a bit of extra time and effort but it's well worth it! It also allows you to practice your writing skills and collect evidence of your achievements.  

Be curious about yourself. What upsets you, what you are passionate about. Ask the questions. The more intuitive you are the better you will be able to communicate your needs and set healthy boundaries.  

Work hard - run the laps, hit the gym, take more shots than you need to - but listen to your body. Overtraining curbs performance and the importance of sleep, mental health, healthy diet and stretching are paramount.

School should not be an afterthought. Set yourself up with well-thought out class choices and work hard on maintaining your grades. Your post-Lakeland self will thank you and more doors in the future will open because of your effort. Get a mentor or tutor or ask for help if you need to.

Playing any sport at a high-level creates resiliency in those who embrace it. You're not going to win every game, and in life you're going to fail sometimes at work or in your personal life. When I played at Lakeland, we lost as many games as we won which was hard. But it highlighted how important communication, teamwork, leadership, and learning from your setbacks are to personal growth. Failure’s okay learn from it and get back up!