Bulka's MVP Run Starts with Senior Superlative
Voted on by her peers, Lauren Bulka was one of two recipients awarded "Most Athletic" this school year. She has played on the Pride's volleyball, basketball, and tennis teams, all under Coach Carmel Keilty.
"You put so much effort into your athletics. So it is good to know that people acknowledge it," says Bulka of the honor. She has played volleyball and basketball, for all 4 years at the school, while playing tennis for the past 2 seasons. You may tell yourself that it is hard to be a 3-sport athlete, but Bulka thrives on the intensity. "It takes up a lot of time. However, you get to know a lot of teammates and opponents, who also play multiple sports. So it is really fun to compete." She looks to finish out her sports career at Heritage on a high note, this Spring, with tennis.
Bulka didn't decide to start playing volleyball until about a week or two before the start of her freshman year. Fellow senior, and friend, Jill Biermann, talked her into playing with her for the school. So it was only right for Bulka to lead the Lady Pride team to a berth in the Virginia AA state tournament. She was not only a physical and emotional leader, but also a vocal one, on the court this year. Junior teammate, Gaby Galvan, had this to say when describing Bulka as a teammate; "It was a lot of fun to play with Lauren because she is a leader. Also, we knew we could count on her to lead our team to victory and make us play our best."
In basketball, Bulka was one of only 3 seniors on this season's Pride team, and helped guide them to improve, with better records, season after season, since arriving on campus. "Having Lauren all 3 seasons has been incredible. I have never had the opportunity, nor will I again, coach one player for three seasons. She is one of the most dedicated and motivated athletes I've ever coached," says Keilty (about coaching 1 athlete, for 3 separate sports, during a school year).
Having only been playing tennis for 2 years, Bulka has become a natural, picking up the sport very quickly. Attending camps paid off for her, as she quickly fell in love with the sport. She was a major reason how the girls tennis team claimed the Dulles District girls tennis championship this year.
According to Bulka, her inspiration for all sports has come from her older brother. "He pushed me to compete not only with him, but all-around. He made me want to win." Having to choose between three sports as your favorite can always be tough, but Bulka prefers volleyball over her long time love, basketball. She says that it is more of a team sport and that it is not as aggressive. She also believes that it takes more strategy than other sports, and it is great to dive on the floor.
In the fall, Bulka will be attending the University of Virginia, graduating with a 3.92 GPA. She is optimistic about continuing her athletic career, thinking more about sticking with intramural sports rather than NCAA sanctioned sports. "Lauren will be extremely hard to replace because she brings so much more to the court than just her physical ability. She is extremely intelligent, enthusiastic, and has an unending work ethic," says Keilty about replacing Bulka in all three sports next season.
Congratulations, Lauren, for being selected as a Senior Superlative by your fellow seniors.
