It was their first day on Millersville’s campus and everyone was feeling a little nervous. That’s when Abbey Anderson met Lauren Witmer.
The two were about to become tennis teammates and were destined to be best friends. Witmer had a way about her. She was impossible not to like.
“She came down the steps of the student union building with a big smile,” Anderson said. “She seemed so comfortable and knew everybody. She made everybody feel welcome and excited to be on the team.”
Soon, there was another memorable first encounter. Witmer was on her way to the opening day of classes when she crossed paths with Ryan Mellinger. The two realized they played the same sport.
A conversation started and another lifelong connection was made
“She was a super friendly girl,” Mellinger said. “She was always smiling and always happy. She loved being at the courts.”
Witmer became one of Millersville’s most accomplished tennis players. She was the PSAC player of the year as a junior and senior and helped the team claim four consecutive conference championships. She ranks third in school history with a combined 197 singles and doubles wins.
Those achievements have led to another honor. Witmer is one of four athletes who will receive the J. Freeland Chryst award from the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet at Eden Resort Wednesday.
The other inductees are Travis Jankowski, Andrew Wenger and Jim Cantafio. Phil Kauffman was chosen for the George W. Kirchner award for lifetime contribution.
Anderson quickly learned that Witmer wasn’t new to Millersville like everyone else. The Lancaster Catholic grad practically grew up there while her dad ran the student center.
When she was in high school, Witmer planned to attend a different college. Somewhere farther away from home. She realized she couldn’t leave home behind.
“I had all the Millersville apparel,” Witmer said. “I was a Marauder from when I was little. When I went on a visit to meet the team at other schools, it felt wrong. It felt like I was betraying where I’m supposed to be.”
Witmer was Catholic’s No. 1 singles player for her final three high school seasons. She qualified for the PIAA tournament as a senior.
The success she enjoyed in college extended beyond forehands and backhands. She was unflappable during matches and worked diligently to improve.
“She had this unbelievable tenacity and this ability to focus and not get mentally down,” Mellinger said. “So you watch her play and you would never know if she was winning or losing.”
Witmer mapped out her professional future during her undergrad years. She decided she wanted to be a surgeon.
One advisor told Witmer she couldn’t play tennis and enroll as pre-med at the same time. Witmer was encouraged to consider playing intramurals instead. She didn’t listen. She found a new advisor.
“If there’s something you really want to do, don’t listen to someone else tell you that you can’t,” Witmer said. “Anything is usually possible.”
Witmer, who graduated from MU in 2001, picked urogynecology as her specialty. She’s the Division Chief and Managing Physician of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Lancaster General Hospital.
Although her studies have brought her to other places, Maine for medical school, Reading for her rotation and Cincinnati for her fellowship, Witmer eventually returned to Millersville. She bought her family’s farmette and lives there with three dogs and four rescued mini donkeys.
Witmer’s life after tennis has placed her in celebrity company. She recently received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award celebrating student-athletes who excelled in their professional careers while upholding the values of college athletics.
The other athletes honored at the ceremony held in January were Drew Brees, Tamika Catchings and Nick Ackerman. A Super Bowl MVP quarterback, an Olympic gold medalist in basketball and an NCAA champion in wrestling.
Sports helped prepare Witmer for her life in medicine. She learned how to take instruction and how to work within the structure of a team.
“We’re doing serious things and having serious conversations,” Witmer said. “People are not gonna sugarcoat things. You have to be able to take feedback well.”
Anderson, whose maiden name is Neff, was Witmer’s doubles partner for all four years of college. Their memories remain vivid 25 years later.
The two used to coordinate their outfits, their jewelry and their hair styles. They sang songs with their teammates on the van rides to road matches.
“I feel like we were together almost every weekend and every break,” Anderson said. “Every memory of college has her in it because we were together so much.”
Both Witmer and Anderson are in Millersville’s Hall of Fame. Their 107 career doubles wins still rank No. 1 all-time. That’s their shared legacy.
Witmer made a strong first impression at Millersville. Then she made a lasting one.
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