First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week

Lauren Thoele, Senior
Duchesne High School

“It means the world to me to look up into the stands and see my mom and dad and both my grandmas at every game.” – Lauren Thoele

Being the leading scorer on arguably the best girls’ basketball team in the county might give some an inflated ego. Not so with Duchesne senior Lauren Thoele. Maybe the fact that she has been a three-year starter including being on a State Championship team her sophomore year contributes to her humble personality. “Being State Champions was an experience beyond words,” tells Thoele, who is averaging just under 12 points per game. “that team was loaded with talent, some of the best players I have ever seen.”

Thoele comes from a basketball family. “My dad introduced me to basketball when I was just a little kid.” Her dad is Thomas Thoele who also played basketball at Duchesne and went on to play at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Lauren lives with her dad and mom, Mary, in St. Charles City. Her two brothers, Eric and Jeff are currently attending Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

When asked her team goals for this season Thoele offers “We definitely want to get out of districts again this year and see how far we can go in the tournament.” Individually she “wants to do whatever I can to help this team go as far as they can. I think St. Charles West is gonna be tough, real tough, and they are in our district again this year.”

“Playing for coach Elmendorf is really something special,” added Thoele, “to some it may seem like he yells a lot, but to me it helps. In a game situation when times are really tough I can hear him yelling inside my head. I know it sounds weird, but its like he knows in advance what is gonna happen and gets us ready for it.” Elmendorf’s respect is mutual. “Lauren is a three year starter for us and doing an excellent job in a leadership role. Most importantly she has maintained over a 4.0 g.p.a.”

Lauren’s favorite subject in school is math and her favorite teacher is her assistant coach, Mr. Steagell. If she were given a credit card and allowed to go to any restaurant and order what ever she could, she would travel to Sikeston and go to Lambert’s, “home of the throwed roles,” and order their fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Lauren is unsure of what she will study in college. She has narrowed her choices to Benedictine College, in Kansas, or Millikin University in Decatur, IL.

Favorite book: Harry Potter books
Favorite movie: Love and Basketball
Favorite type music: Country

To nominate an athlete contact Mike McMurran at 314.280.9189 or mcmurran@charter.net