PLAYTIME
Freshman forward Lauren Hibbard has temporarily set aside the pursuit of a black belt to focus on her career with the Ramblers. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
To each her own (sport) T
How Forward Lauren Hibbard came to the court
hey’ve been striking each other with their fists and feet since age 4. But this is no Cain and Abel story for twins Lauren and Julia Hibbard. The
pair from West Allis, Wisconsin, are proficient in the martial art of tae kwon do, where punching and kicking is an accepted practice. Their mother wanted her daughters to learn
tae kwon do as a form of self defense. The girls excelled in the sport, each winning numerous competitions throughout their childhood. But the twins parted ways when they reached high school. Julia, at 5 feet, 6 inches tall, found her
compact size to be ideal for a sport that prizes agility and speed. Lauren, standing 6 feet, 2 inches tall, discovered that basketball was more suited to her size and strength. Julia, a black belt, has won several Wisconsin
state championships and teaches tae kwon do. Lauren, who is close to receiving her black belt, is putting tae kwon do aside while she plays for Loyola’s women’s basketball team. A freshman forward, Lauren plans to earn her black belt once she graduates. But she doesn’t feel her years of tae kwon do training have been squandered. “It’s helped me with my discipline, condi-
tioning, focus, and footwork,” says Hibbard, a biology and French major. Hibbard was recruited by Loyola after a
stellar career at West Allis Central High School, where she averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds
28 LOYOLA UNIVERSI T Y CHICAGO
her senior year and was a four-time all-confer- ence selection. “Lauren brings size and strength to our team,” says second-year head coach Eric Simpson. “She’s a hard worker and she’s smart, and she’s making quick adjustments to learn our system.” After considering several scholarship offers,
Hibbard chose Loyola. “It was a young team with a new coach and it was an opportunity to help build something,” she says. Her sister, Julia, meanwhile, chose to attend rival Marquette University. But Hibbard pledges that her twin’s choice of schools won’t drive a wedge in their relationship. “It’s been difficult because we’ve always
been at the same school,” Hibbard says. “We needed to go different places to pursue our different interests. But we talk to and text each other all the time.”
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