Childhood sports often instill great competitiveness within kids, driving them toward success and ambition to make it to the big leagues — whether it means playing professionally or at a university.

For Chapman University alumna Lauren Kamiyama, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in liberal studies, she exceeded most childhood dreams and has been inducted into the Chapman Hall of Fame for her lasting impact on the women’s basketball team. 

She is an all-time leader in Chapman women’s basketball history for assists and steals, earning an All-Region selection and scoring 34 points in a huge comeback win over La Verne in an NCAA tournament game. 

In an interview with The Panther, Kamiyama spoke about her original sports journey and Chapman endeavors. 

“The original plan was to play softball and soccer at Chapman, but my senior year in high school, I (tore) both my ACLs and my wrist — my right knee and my left knee,” Kamiyama said. “I got surgery and then after… plans kind of changed and then I wanted to play basketball at that point.”

Due to lingering injuries her freshman year of college, she attended Chapman for an extra year. 

Throughout the duration of her career, Chapman women’s basketball was not in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). There was no conference, only sudden death games, which enhanced the passion to win in Kamiyama’s heart.

“It's not easy to win… Back when I was playing, we weren't in SCIAC, which made it harder because it wasn't like we could just win our conference and get a bid to the playoffs,” Kamiyama said. “Every game mattered for us. It was almost do or die every single time we stepped on the court.”

Kamiyama also details that being a student athlete was worth the long practice hours and tight games. 

Being around teammates that have similar schedules and interests fueled long lasting bonds and friendships that other activities may not fulfill, she said. 

When hearing the news of her induction into the Hall of Fame, Kamiyama was excited, but also reflective of those who helped her get to that point. 

“It's a complete team effort as far as just the teammates,” Kamiyama said. “The journey along the way, they helped in some way, some shape or some form. And so I think it's important that while one person is being celebrated, everybody along the journey should also be celebrated as well.

Kamiyama has since retired from playing but is still keeping active and engaged in the sports world as athletic director at North Torrance High School in Torrance, California.