Athlete Profile: Lauren Dombeck

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School’s Lauren Dombeck is enjoying her senior season of cross-country while also helping the team finish near the top of its Central Wisconsin Conference meets.

Dombeck placed 31st at the Charger Invitational on Aug. 8 in Wittenberg, a night the girls team placed third. The girls team also placed third at the T-Bird Invitational on Aug. 31 in Iola, with Dombeck finishing 35th that evening.

Q: When did your interest in cross-country begin?

A: My interest really peaked my sixth grade year when our cross-country coach Cathy (Easker) asked me if I would be interested in joining cross-country because I was doing track. I really wasn’t interested at first, but I ended up giving it a shot and fell in love with the sport.

Q: What is your favorite part about the cross-country season?

A: I really love how close the team is. Everyone gets along, and we are always messing around with each other every day at practice and at meets. The team is like a second family to me.

Q: What has cross-country taught you over the years?

A: Cross-country has taught me how to persevere and work hard to reach your goals. There have been times where I wasn’t happy with my meet times, but I have learned over the years that if I don’t like my time to work harder in practice and get better for the next meet and never give up.

Q: As a senior, how do you try and help lead the rest of the team, yet still enjoy your last season?

A: By being a role model and trying to help guide the underclassmen and middle schoolers but still enjoying being around them and the rest of my friends.

Q: Now that you’re a few meets into the season, what are your goals for the rest of the year and how will you achieve those?

A: To improve my times every meet, and I will achieve that by pushing myself more and more every day in practice.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Wittenberg-Birnamwood cross-country team?

A: My favorite memory was being able to run on varsity at a Rosholt meet my freshman year with all the seniors I looked up to at the time.

Q: What are you going to miss most about high school cross-country?

A: I am going to miss our mini concerts on the bus to and from meets. A couple girls on the team love to share our headphones and sing all the songs that come on. It really gives us the burst of energy we need for the race.

Q: Favorite TV show, movie and musical artist?

A: TV show — “Pretty Little Liars.” Movie — “Cinderella.” Musical artist — Post Malone.

Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know.

A: Many people don’t know that I was planning on joining volleyball instead of cross-country until coach Easker convinced me to join cross-country instead, and I am so happy I did.

Q: What’s the greatest piece of advice you have ever been told?

A: The best advice I have gotten was to never cheat because you’re only cheating yourself and your team.

Q: What are some things you hope to accomplish after graduating high school?

A: I want to attend UW-Milwaukee or Marquette University and major in criminology. My major goal in life is to be a part of the FBI.

AT A GLANCE

Athlete: Lauren Dombeck

Sport: Cross-country

School: Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School

Year: Senior