In the second of a series, we check in with Brandeis student-athletes about how they've handled the unique situations presented by the spring and summer of 2020.

Lauren Bertsch '21 is captain of the women's tennis team and was the 2019-20 president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is a three-time All-University Athletic Association performer, twice at doubles and once at singles. As a sophomore, she helped the Judges reach their first-ever NCAA Division III tournament, where they advanced to the regional final, defeating Penn State Abington and Skidmore before falling to eventual national champion Wesleyan.

How did your classes go last semester? Did you do well with virtual learning? 

My classes went really well! It was definitely awkward at first speaking/participating on zoom but over time I was able to get more comfortable with it.

How did you spend your free time? 

I ran almost every morning before class and baked a lot! I also walked my dogs every day and did some yoga now and then.

What's the best movie or show you saw? 

I finally saw Forrest Gump with my family and recently saw the Hamilton show on DisneyPlus which was absolutely amazing. 

How have you kept engaged with your coaches and teammates? 

I talk to my coaches and teammates every week and we try to stay connected through zoom meetings, cooking challenges, and virtual team yoga. 

How have you kept in shape for your sport? 

I have been doing teambuildr workouts and running a 5-mile loop near my house about 4x a week. 

What's the first thing you want to do when you get back onto campus?

 Air-hug all of my friends that I haven't seen in months and also get back onto the tennis court with my team!