National

How Pa. senior Lauren Snell has led her high-school tennis team, on and off the court

Arthur Kapetanakis | October 23, 2024

Lauren Snell has been the No. 1 singles player for McCaskey High School since she first joined the team as a freshman. Now a senior at the Lancaster, Pa., school, Snell is entering her third year as captain and last year was named a Lancaster Lebanon League All-Star.

 

McCaskey is a Title I school that receives federal funding to aid its largely under-resourced student body, with many of the school's youth qualifying for free lunches. Few of Lauren's teammates had much tennis experience entering high school, with many brand new to the game. But as the senior took on a leadership role, she helped build up the team both on and off the court.

"With the role of team captain I have done my best to encourage my teammates, as well as set a good example for practice and hard work," Snell told USTA.com. "I run a lot of the warm-ups and my co-captains and I have enjoyed organizing times for team bonding."

 

Snell's work with the team has extended into the offseason, when she and her family set up times during the summer for the team to play as a group. This past summer, they arranged for two evening sessions each week and encouraged players, parents and coaches to join.

 

"Lauren really looked at it as a peer-driven activity rather than parents and coaches creating another practice," said her father, Ben Snell. "She would lead warm-ups, drills, and hitting and organize players into groups.  She even would do some individual instruction with inexperienced players."

A consistent baseliner, Snell has also proven steady in her efforts to grow her team into a tightly knit group. School tennis provides a rare opportunity for tennis players to compete in a team atmosphere, something Snell has cherished during her four years at McCaskey.

 

"I really love being able to be on a team while also competing by myself," she explained. "My team has been so supportive and welcoming. We love to cheer each other on and it’s been a great opportunity to meet new people."

 

Snell is still in the midst of her college search and is interested in small liberal arts colleges. She hopes to continue playing tennis wherever she ends up, possibly on a club team. But tennis is not the only sport Lauren enjoys—she's also an avid skier, a sport that four-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic and reigning US Open titlist Jannik Sinner also excelled in as kids.

 

"I feel like both sports require precision and focus," Snell said of the similarities between the two. "Skiing helps my tennis game by improving my stamina and helping me maintain focus while playing and completing my shots."

 

As Snell prepares to wrap up her high school career, she continues to leave a legacy on McCaskey’s program—one that will be felt long after she graduates. By combining her passion for tennis and for helping others, she has made a lasting impact that extends beyond the school's hard courts while also helping her team rack up more wins on them.

 

"Lauren felt—and we felt—that working to build the team and working on her own game could be done at the same time," added her mother, Megan Snell. "It's only so much fun when you are often one of the few on your team winning. Lauren wanted to change that and have her teammates also feel that success."

Skip Advertisement

Advertisement

Related Articles

  • Visit the HS Senior Spotlight: Snell page
    HS Senior Spotlight: Snell
    October 23, 2024
    Lauren Snell, a senior all-star at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pa., has led the school's girls' tennis team both on and off the court as its No. 1 singles player and captain. Read More
  • Visit the HS Tennis on Public Courts page
    HS Tennis on Public Courts
    July 26, 2024
    In celebration of National Parks & Recreation Month, USTA.com highlights four premier public facilities that host high school tennis as part of a larger mission to grow the game among the nation’s youth. Read More
  • Visit the H.S. star gives back page
    H.S. star gives back
    June 25, 2024
    In a decorated high-school tennis career at Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga., Cameron Douthit compiled a sparkling 72-3 four-year record, but that's just part of what tennis has done for him. Read More