EQ: Get to Know Lauren Jorgensen
7/15/2024 9:54:00 AM | Equestrian
Editor's Note: This is the seventh of a Summer series allowing the Baylor fans to get to know some of the elite student-athletes from the equestrian team on BaylorBears.com.
A rising junior, Lauren Jorgensen has been a fixture in the lineup since arriving on campus for the 2022-23 season. After leading the team with a .750 winning percentage in Fences as a freshman, she competed in both Fences and Flat as a sophomore, including posting a 7-5-1 mark in Flat. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., she was named Most Outstanding Performer in a win over No. 10 UT Martin.
At what age did you begin competing in equestrian events?
Lauren Jorgensen: I began riding at 4 and started competing at 7. I became more competitive the older I got and attended more/higher-rated shows each year.
Why did you start competing in equestrian / under what circumstances did you begin?
LJ: Our close family friend, Pamm Wynn, used to ride horses. I have always been an animal lover, so she thought it would be fun to take me to see the horses at the barn where she used to ride. Little did she or my parents know I would fall in love with them. From then on, I begged to go to the barn as often as possible. I began taking lessons once a week, then multiple times a week, going to local competitions, out-of-state competitions, etc. Then, the journey went on from there.
What is your earliest memory of riding?
LJ: My earliest memory is actually not the most positive one, but I can definitely look back and laugh. It is actually one of me falling off my leased poly, Waverly. One time, as someone was opening a gate next to my old barn's arena, my pony spooked and took off. I fell off and got one of my feet caught in the stirrup, so I got drug around the arena. With dirt all over and tears running down my face, my trainer walked over and asked if I was hurt. After my response of "no," she said then stop crying and get back on. I will never forget this moment.
Who is a current/former collegiate or professional athlete whom you admire and why?
LJ: One of my biggest inspirations in collegiate riding is Dominika Silvestri. Dom was the first person I met on the team, and she was my "big" as well. She was incredibly supportive from the start of my Baylor journey, always there to lend a helping hand and answer any questions I had. I look up to her as an athlete, a student, and a teammate. She is an incredible competitor, always able to lay it down when we need her most. She is academically gifted, even being the one who encouraged me to choose Finance as my major. Most importantly, she cares for each and every teammate.
What family members have made the biggest impact on your life and why?
LJ: My parents are Lence and Brittany Jorgensen, and I have an older sister, Grace Jorgensen, and a younger sister, Sadie Jorgensen. They have all been incredibly supportive of my journey. My Dad rode throughout his childhood, but he did Western. Nonetheless, he has been an inspiration and understood what it took to reach the next level. My Mom was always the one to travel with me to horse shows. She woke up at 5:30 am most horse show days so I could get to the barn and ride in the arenas before the shows began. We would then be on the grounds for the rest of the day, and then she would drive me back to where we were staying after. She did all of it with a smile on her face. No matter the rounds I had, no matter the day, she was always there for me, and for that, I am forever grateful.
What are your strengths in your discipline? What are the areas you are currently trying to work on the most?
LJ: I am a very soft rider and do not like to get in the way of the horses. My trainers and coaches always tell me this is my virtue and my detriment. There are times when I need to be more disciplined and figure out how to get the exact response that I want, and there are some times when this works to my advantage. I have been working through finding a balance between both of these.
Why did you decide to attend Baylor?
LJ: I ultimately decided to attend Baylor because of the people. I visited a couple of schools and knew Baylor was up there on my list. I knew I wanted to ride in college, so my choices were somewhat limited. What ultimately led to my decision was hearing Baylor's team being praised by other college athletes for being good people while still being competitive.
What is your academic major and why did you select that major?
LJ: I am double majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. I have always been fascinated by business and how companies operate. My parents are in real estate, so I have been involved in business my whole life. I think that the analytical skills from Finance and the innovative thinking from Entrepreneurship complement one another well.
What are your career goals and why do you have an interest in pursuing that particular career?
LJ: I am not entirely sure what I want to do yet. However, after having the privilege of watching my parents work and run their business, I think I want to go into real estate. I want to help people in any way I can, and I think real estate would be a great way to do this.
Have there been any big obstacles that you have had to overcome in your life? How did you overcome them and how did that experience help shape you?
LJ: One of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was when I broke my right wrist playing volleyball. My Dad wanted me to venture out and try other sports because I only wanted to spend time at the barn. I decided to join my school's volleyball team. Though it was fun for the time, I ended up falling and breaking my wrist the second game we played. I did not get to ride for a month and a half, something that was not ideal for the horse-loving 13-year-old girl I was. I ended up getting my cast off the day before a horse show. I was supposed to be wearing a splint when doing any activity, but it would not fit under my coat and gloves, so I decided to do without. I competed all weekend, and though I was a little rusty, I was still happy to be able to compete in the show I had been practicing for. Looking back, I do think that I needed a break from riding for a little while, and I am thankful for the time away that I got to spend with my family and friends. It was also in the sport's absence that I appreciated it the most.
What do you enjoy doing outside of equestrian and school?
LJ: I enjoy spending time with my friends, whether going on walks, watching movies, or getting frozen yogurt (one of our favorite "activities"). I am also a part of Greek life at Baylor, being an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha, so I enjoy going to those events!
Do you have any pets? What are their names and what role do they play in your life?
LJ: Yes, I have two dogs and a cat. My dogs' names are Smokey and Gizmo, and my cat's name is Buddy. I have always been an animal lover and love spending time with all of them. I miss them when I am away at college, but I am so excited to see them when I go home!
What would you most like to be known for as a Baylor student-athlete?
LJ: I want to be known as a supportive teammate and, hopefully, as a mentor for younger student-athletes. I want to be someone who always puts in their best effort, no matter the task, and is always there to cheer anyone up or lend a helping hand.
What advice would you give to a young girl who would like to one day be in your shoes?
LJ: Always remember your why. Don't get too caught up in the competitiveness or swept up in the quick pace of it all. Take a step back and remember who you are and how you got to where you are, then take advantage of every moment and every opportunity.
A rising junior, Lauren Jorgensen has been a fixture in the lineup since arriving on campus for the 2022-23 season. After leading the team with a .750 winning percentage in Fences as a freshman, she competed in both Fences and Flat as a sophomore, including posting a 7-5-1 mark in Flat. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., she was named Most Outstanding Performer in a win over No. 10 UT Martin.
At what age did you begin competing in equestrian events?
Lauren Jorgensen: I began riding at 4 and started competing at 7. I became more competitive the older I got and attended more/higher-rated shows each year.
Why did you start competing in equestrian / under what circumstances did you begin?
LJ: Our close family friend, Pamm Wynn, used to ride horses. I have always been an animal lover, so she thought it would be fun to take me to see the horses at the barn where she used to ride. Little did she or my parents know I would fall in love with them. From then on, I begged to go to the barn as often as possible. I began taking lessons once a week, then multiple times a week, going to local competitions, out-of-state competitions, etc. Then, the journey went on from there.
What is your earliest memory of riding?
LJ: My earliest memory is actually not the most positive one, but I can definitely look back and laugh. It is actually one of me falling off my leased poly, Waverly. One time, as someone was opening a gate next to my old barn's arena, my pony spooked and took off. I fell off and got one of my feet caught in the stirrup, so I got drug around the arena. With dirt all over and tears running down my face, my trainer walked over and asked if I was hurt. After my response of "no," she said then stop crying and get back on. I will never forget this moment.
Who is a current/former collegiate or professional athlete whom you admire and why?
LJ: One of my biggest inspirations in collegiate riding is Dominika Silvestri. Dom was the first person I met on the team, and she was my "big" as well. She was incredibly supportive from the start of my Baylor journey, always there to lend a helping hand and answer any questions I had. I look up to her as an athlete, a student, and a teammate. She is an incredible competitor, always able to lay it down when we need her most. She is academically gifted, even being the one who encouraged me to choose Finance as my major. Most importantly, she cares for each and every teammate.
What family members have made the biggest impact on your life and why?
LJ: My parents are Lence and Brittany Jorgensen, and I have an older sister, Grace Jorgensen, and a younger sister, Sadie Jorgensen. They have all been incredibly supportive of my journey. My Dad rode throughout his childhood, but he did Western. Nonetheless, he has been an inspiration and understood what it took to reach the next level. My Mom was always the one to travel with me to horse shows. She woke up at 5:30 am most horse show days so I could get to the barn and ride in the arenas before the shows began. We would then be on the grounds for the rest of the day, and then she would drive me back to where we were staying after. She did all of it with a smile on her face. No matter the rounds I had, no matter the day, she was always there for me, and for that, I am forever grateful.
What are your strengths in your discipline? What are the areas you are currently trying to work on the most?
LJ: I am a very soft rider and do not like to get in the way of the horses. My trainers and coaches always tell me this is my virtue and my detriment. There are times when I need to be more disciplined and figure out how to get the exact response that I want, and there are some times when this works to my advantage. I have been working through finding a balance between both of these.
Why did you decide to attend Baylor?
LJ: I ultimately decided to attend Baylor because of the people. I visited a couple of schools and knew Baylor was up there on my list. I knew I wanted to ride in college, so my choices were somewhat limited. What ultimately led to my decision was hearing Baylor's team being praised by other college athletes for being good people while still being competitive.
What is your academic major and why did you select that major?
LJ: I am double majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. I have always been fascinated by business and how companies operate. My parents are in real estate, so I have been involved in business my whole life. I think that the analytical skills from Finance and the innovative thinking from Entrepreneurship complement one another well.
What are your career goals and why do you have an interest in pursuing that particular career?
LJ: I am not entirely sure what I want to do yet. However, after having the privilege of watching my parents work and run their business, I think I want to go into real estate. I want to help people in any way I can, and I think real estate would be a great way to do this.
Have there been any big obstacles that you have had to overcome in your life? How did you overcome them and how did that experience help shape you?
LJ: One of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was when I broke my right wrist playing volleyball. My Dad wanted me to venture out and try other sports because I only wanted to spend time at the barn. I decided to join my school's volleyball team. Though it was fun for the time, I ended up falling and breaking my wrist the second game we played. I did not get to ride for a month and a half, something that was not ideal for the horse-loving 13-year-old girl I was. I ended up getting my cast off the day before a horse show. I was supposed to be wearing a splint when doing any activity, but it would not fit under my coat and gloves, so I decided to do without. I competed all weekend, and though I was a little rusty, I was still happy to be able to compete in the show I had been practicing for. Looking back, I do think that I needed a break from riding for a little while, and I am thankful for the time away that I got to spend with my family and friends. It was also in the sport's absence that I appreciated it the most.
What do you enjoy doing outside of equestrian and school?
LJ: I enjoy spending time with my friends, whether going on walks, watching movies, or getting frozen yogurt (one of our favorite "activities"). I am also a part of Greek life at Baylor, being an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha, so I enjoy going to those events!
Do you have any pets? What are their names and what role do they play in your life?
LJ: Yes, I have two dogs and a cat. My dogs' names are Smokey and Gizmo, and my cat's name is Buddy. I have always been an animal lover and love spending time with all of them. I miss them when I am away at college, but I am so excited to see them when I go home!
What would you most like to be known for as a Baylor student-athlete?
LJ: I want to be known as a supportive teammate and, hopefully, as a mentor for younger student-athletes. I want to be someone who always puts in their best effort, no matter the task, and is always there to cheer anyone up or lend a helping hand.
What advice would you give to a young girl who would like to one day be in your shoes?
LJ: Always remember your why. Don't get too caught up in the competitiveness or swept up in the quick pace of it all. Take a step back and remember who you are and how you got to where you are, then take advantage of every moment and every opportunity.
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