A student at North Star High School is taking her skills in the classroom and on the volleyball court south of the border.
Lauren Essenpreis, a key member of the North Star Wolves senior girls volleyball team, will be taking those same volleyball skills to Wayne State University next season. She signed her letter of intent last Thursday afternoon to play for the Detroit-based university.
“I’m for sure relieved,” said Essenpreis. “I feel relaxed.”
Essenpreis said she toured other schools in both Canada and the United States but enjoyed the environment at Wayne State. She said she is happy to have made her selection, knowing others in her grade are still having to make the decision on where they will spend their post-secondary education.
“I loved the campus,” she said of Wayne State. “I love that I can live away from home but I’m still close to home. My family can still come and watch me play. I toured the campus and thought about it for a little bit, but I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. It’s the perfect spot.”
Essenpreis said she looks forward to being able to live on her own but emphasized she is not far from home. The Wayne State Warriors play in NCAA Division 2 and in the GLIAC conference. She anticipates getting playing time as a freshman.
“I would say they are getting a very hard worker and someone who puts their full effort into everything,” said Essenpreis.
Essenpreis thanked her coaches for developing her as a player and noted the experiences going to OFSAA multiple times has helped her. She is getting a full-ride scholarship to Wayne State, with her few expenses being to pay for books and course materials. She will be majoring in exercise science and sport science with a minor in physics.
North Star teacher and girls volleyball coach Jeff Miller said it is always a good thing when an athlete is able to earn a scholarship.
“Lauren is a fantastic athlete and it’s very, very difficult to get this type of scholarship,” he said. “Volleyball is over the top competitive.”
Miller explained there are 15 club teams in Windsor-Essex County but over 500 club teams in Michigan.
“It’s not easy with the transfer portal to play right away,” he said, adding he believes she won’t have to wait too long to see the court. “I think Wayne state is going to be pleased with her.
Miller said a number of great volleyball players have come out of Amherstburg and Essenpreis ranks highly among them.
“She’s probably the most complete player we’ve had in Amherstburg in 25 years and that says a lot,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of great volleyball players.”
North Star volleyball player earns scholarship to U.S. university
By Ron Giofu
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