Lauren Costa

Costa started playing volleyball at Holy Trinity Catholic Church when she was in the fifth grade and has been in love with the sport ever since. She played all four years in high school – her freshman year on the junior varsity squad and the rest on varsity – and received numerous recognitions. The setter was named El Camino Real League First- and Second-Team, Most Valuable Player, and helped her team earn the title of undefeated league champions in 2008.

Volleyball provided a way for me to show and develop leadership skills and to be a more well-rounded person,” Costa explains. “Volleyball is a very graceful sport and it taught me to be two steps ahead.”

Although she got a bit burnt out on softball as a kid, she returned to the sport her junior and senior years. This time around, she served as the team’s shortstop and was named El Camino Real League Second-Team and Best Defensive Player.

When I was younger, softball was all about being with my friends and being a part of something,” says Costa. “But when I came back, it was more about drive and passion.” Costa will carry over her drive and passion for sports into college, as she plans to play intramural volleyball at California State University, Long Beach.

She will also carry over her motivation and determination to succeed in the classroom into college as well. As a student at Mary Star, she carried a 4.0 grade point average and was a part of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. She also served as the senior class president and accrued more than 400 hours of volunteer service.

Some of her extracurricular activities include working as an umpire at Peck Park and living up to her title as 2007 Mary Star Fiesta Queen. Every year, the school hosts a festival to raise money for the parish and the young woman that raises the most money is crowned queen. Costa was up against four other girls and held bake sales, silent auctions, bingo days, restaurant fundraisers and more to raise money and claim the crown.

It was one of the best experiences,” exclaims Costa. “You see firsthand how happy and willing people are to help support you and the church and it was just an overall humbling experience.”

Her reign as queen didn’t end there however. Costa was once again crowned, but this time as her school’s Homecoming Queen her senior year.

Although she cherishes her times as queen, her real treasures lie on the field with her teammates and coaches and at home with her family, where her mom Pam, a previous teacher at Holy Trinity and current teacher at Port of Los Angeles High School, and her dad Dom, who coached football at San Pedro High School for 11 years, have continually supported her and her 15-year-old brother Jake.

I think sports have really shaped who I am – they have provided everything I need to lead and succeed,” shares Costa. “I’m grateful for all of my experiences and for my family and all the coaches for taking the time to support and encourage me.”

As Costa heads to college, she plans on majoring in psychology, but has an interest in marine biology as well. And if her time in college is anywhere near as busy as her time in high school, then she better work on adding more hours to her day. spt