Alumni in the Olympics

When looking back to our alumni it's often hard to find their personal histories unless I call them up or facebook them, and I just can't find myself to be their personal stalkers.  So with the help of Wikipedia we can reminice about our alumni and how amazing they are.

Dana Schoenfield (class of 71)

Dana Schoenfield (71) Dana was born in Harvey, Illinois and spent her childhood in Schererville, Indiana. She first learned to swim at the local Sherwood Golf and Swim Club, where she began to excel in the breaststroke. Her family relocated to Anaheim, California in 1963 where Dana, along with her brother Michael, actively swam on the Disneyland Hotel Swim Team. She qualified for the Women's Senior National Championships in the 200 meter breaststroke at age 12 years, the youngest swimmer to participate. At 14 years, Dana was the second fastest Women's 200 meter breaststroke swimmer in the country, and just missed making the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team. She would have been the youngest swimmer on the U.S. Team. After semi-retiring for the next 3 years, she was a varsity cheerleader for Loara High School in Anaheim, California.
After graduation, Dana, along with her swim coach Ray Woods, began a 1-year regimen of serious training in an effort to make the 1972 Olympic Team. At the 1972 Chicago Olympic Swimming Trials, she qualified first in the 200 m breaststroke, with a personal best time of 2:43.7. At the Munich Olympic Games, Dana was not expected to 'medal' as she had just the 4th fastest time/ranking for 1972. She placed fourth in the qualifying heats, and was in lane 6 for the Munich final. With her swim idol, Galina Prozumenschikova-Stepanova of Russia swimming in lane 3, Dana out-touched Stepanova with a time of 2:42.03, another personal best. Beverly Whitfield of Australia, on the outside #7 lane, beat Dana for the gold medal at 2:41.7.

Lauren Lappin (class of 02)

Lauren Lappin

Lauren Lappin (b. 26 June 1984 in Anaheim, California) is an American softball player who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Lappin attended Stanford University from 2002-2006 playing shortstop and catcher for the softball team and graduated in December 2006 with a degree in American Studies. She also played with the USA National Elite Team in 2003 and 2005 and was an alternate for the US Olympic Team in 2004. Prior to the 2009 season, Lappin joined the Northwestern University team as a volunteer coach.

A Few Accomplishments
• Olympic Silver Medalist (2008)
• Pan American Gold medalist (2007)
• World Cup Champion (2007)
• Alternate on 2004 Olympic Gold Medal Team

At Loara, Lauren was in student government and was a 4 athlete Letterman on the Varsity teams each year for Soccer, Volleyball, Softball and Basketball.  In talking to Loara coaches while she was there and former principals that have seen the school grow from the 70's to the 2000's there is a common feel that Lauren just may be the best Athlete overall that Loara has ever seen.  As a four sports varsity Letterman and Most Valuable player in them all she has truly left her mark on Loara's history.

Banners hanging in the Saxon Palace honoring our Olympians