“I chose Marshall University for a bunch of reasons, the main reason is the coach. He’s awesome. He reminds me of my [current] coach,” said Lauren Bell.
Division 1 commit, Lauren Bell, has been swimming for Greater Latrobe under Coach Grey Arrigonie her entire career. Lauren joined the Greater Latrobe Aqua Club at age five, following in her sister, Jenna’s, footsteps. Little did the sisters know this would be the beginning of a long and illustrious career.
Some of the swimmer’s highlights include smaller accomplishments like the swimmer’s county performances from her freshman to senior year. In her junior season, she’s proud of her individual WPIAL performances, where she placed second in the 100-yard butterfly. At the 2024 PIAA Championship, getting a podium in the 200 Free Relay with a team that comprised of Hannah Carasia, Destini Homan, and Maggie Elder placed eighth. At the 2025 WCCA Meet, Lauren placed first in the 100-yard butterfly and took second in the 50-yard freestyle. This is the first accomplishment of many during her senior season.
The decorated swimmer never would have accomplished such feats on her own. She attributed her success to her teammates, coaches, and her family. “My teammates, have always been supportive of me. We all support each other. Also, my coach, he’s just always been there. We’ve built a bond that has greatly benefited my training,” Lauren said.
The senior’s parents also played a big role in her swimming career. Lauren spoke specifically of the impact her dad had on not only her but the whole team. “My dad isn’t there just for me, but for the team, getting the whole team hyped up and ready to swim. I’m just glad he’s there for my teammates and me,” said Lauren.
Lauren has spent all of her swimming career surrounded by great people. Of course, she wanted this environment to be replicated in college. When she started to look at schools, she knew the culture would be a deciding factor.
The athlete took her time as she considered her options. Throughout, the fall, spring, and summer of her junior year, Lauren was in communication with numerous colleges, video calling and visiting schools to see where her best fit would be.
Ultimately, the senior narrowed down her options to figure out her top schools. “I was definitely between Marshall and James Madison University, and also Duquense because it was close but not really,” said Lauren.
Distance also played a factor in the swimmer’s decision. Lauren was interested in East Carolina University and looking into the University of Wyoming. However, these possibilities never materialized. “[These schools] weren’t an option for my parents. My mom wouldn’t let me go that far because she and my dad wanted to be able to come watch me swim. They love watching me compete,” Lauren said.
The senior was able to find a happy medium between the thirty-nine miles to Duquense and the four hundred fifty-eight miles to East Carolina. This compromise was found two hundred and sixty-seven miles away in Huntington, West Virginia at Marshall.
On July 15, 2024, Lauren announced her commitment. The athlete believed that she found a group of girls who rivaled her current team. When she went to visit the swim team, all the girls were nice, which created the vibe that Lauren was looking for. “They were just so welcoming, and when it came down to it, it felt like home for me,” said Lauren.
The soon-to-be freshman already has her sights set on her first season as a part of The Herd. Her main goal is to be prepared for anything coming her way while keeping an optimistic attitude throughout it all. “[My main goal is to] be positive, be kind to everyone, and be open to everything,” Lauren said.
The collegiate athlete has few worries about her transition into college. Her mindset will allow her to overcome any obstacles that she may encounter. Lauren has already considered the new workload she will take on as school and swimming “kick up a few notches”.
The only real concern the swimmer has is homesickness. Her parents play an important role in her life as an athlete and a person. Their absences won’t go unnoticed. However, Lauren knows most college freshmen deal with being homesick, so she isn’t too worried about it.
On the flip side, the athlete is excited to dive in at the collegiate level. Lauren had the chance to get a glimpse of her future at Marshall when she had the opportunity to experience a swim meet. One thing that really stood out to her was the atmosphere. The swimmer vividly remembers that all the girls were “up and screaming” and cheering each other on.
“[I’m very excited to] get in there with the team environment and compete. I’m super excited for swim meets honestly,” said Lauren.
