At the Bruins’ final home game Saturday, Lauren Heineck
really couldn’t hold back her emotions.
During Senior Day, five seniors, including Heineck, each
received cheers, a bouquet of flowers and an embrace from UCLA
women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian.
But for Heineck, the feelings surging through her body were
unlike that of the other seniors. For over a year, one of the
fiercest defenders in the nation has had to sit out because of
several concussions that have sidelined her from the very sport she
loves and breathes.
Now she serves as a student assistant.
But, for those 15 seconds in front of the home crowd watching
the ceremony at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, Heineck forgot
about all that.
“It was very special for me to be on that side of the pool
again,” said Heineck, who shed tears during the ceremony.
“I really cherished the moment; it’s something that
I’ll definitely remember about my UCLA career.”
The memory of tightening the strap of her No. 23 cap under her
chin hasn’t faded. She reminisces putting on her suit and
competing against the best. She recalls the chants of
“Heiny” (her nickname) from the stands. She cherished
it all during her career at UCLA.
But, on March 8, 2005, the game was slowly taken away from
her.
Just days after a crucial win against USC during which Krikorian
remembers Heineck shutting down one of the best two-meter players
in USC’s Moriah Van Norman, Heineck was struck by an
inadvertent elbow to the head during practice.
She suffered a concussion. It wouldn’t be her last.
Just days before the beginning of postseason another freak
accident occurred. During practice, Heineck was hit in the head by
a ball. Heineck did return, however, and play in the semifinal of
the NCAA Tournament. That would be the last time she was in the
pool with her teammates.
During the offseason, Heineck took time away from water polo.
She kept herself fit by training for the L.A. Triathlon in
September. She was confident she would be able to make a full
recovery.
“I didn’t have any doubts that I would be back, and
I think that’s why it’s been so hard,” Heineck
said. “I didn’t expect it all.”
October 28 in Los Alamitos was a day she remembers all too well.
After being invited to train with the U.S. National Team, Heineck
was once again struck in the head by an elbow.
“I blacked out, but I knew within a few minutes, when I
came to, that I had a concussion,” she said. “I
remember the feelings and symptoms, and I didn’t need a
doctor to tell me it would happen.”
Heineck made the decision to curtail her career at that point.
The news was unnerving for those around her.
“It’s health; it’s one of those crazy things
where you just need to take care of your life,” former
teammate Natalie Golda said. “Do you want to ruin the rest of
your life for four years of water polo?
“It’s unfortunate. It really is. She loves playing
water polo. She’s a huge part of the team, a huge
contributor.”
Heineck scored a goal in the 2003 national title-game win over
Stanford. She was co-captain of the 2004 team and a member of the
Junior World Championship Team that captured the gold.
More than anything, Heineck wants to be in the water. The very
same practices she remembers as being grueling and frustrating at
times are now something she longs for.
That’s the very reason why she asked Krikorian to be
around the game. It’s a feeling she can’t get away
from.
“I feel very lucky to be a part of it still,” she
said. “I owe so much to Adam for letting me stay involved.
He’s been very supportive and that shows you what a great
coach and person he is for allowing me to be in this position, for
keeping me involved and not turning their shoulders on me just
because I wasn’t in a suit every day.”
Heineck is there for every practice, every team meeting and
every game. She does whatever she can to help the team. Whether
it’s running the clock and scoreboard during practice or
handing out water, her teammates definitely appreciate it.
“It’s so admirable,” senior utility Kristina
Kunkel said. “Our team wouldn’t be the same. Our
program wouldn’t be the same. Nothing would be the same
without Heineck.
“She has the biggest heart on the team.”
For Krikorian, even talking about what Heineck has meant to his
team nearly made him teary-eyed.
“She’s one of those rare kids that will work her
hardest ““ harder than anyone ““ and at the same time,
she’s probably one of the most unselfish players I’ve
coached,” he said. “It’s easy for someone in
those shoes to distance themselves from the team selfishly, but
she’s so unselfish. She cares so much right now about us
being successful and us winning than she has ever
before.”
She has won two championship rings: one in 2003 and the other in
2005. And as UCLA attempts to defend its national title, Heineck
will root. She’ll root on the inside, on the outside, from
the sidelines.
She’ll do whatever she can. That’s her role.