When one has that competitive drive they tend to seek out opportunities to fill that need and for one former Highland Community College athlete it has led to an opportunity in a different sport than she played in College.

Former Highland softball player, Lauren Crouch who played at Highland in 2015 and 2016 was recently named "Rookie of the Year" in the Legends Football League after she competed at quarterback with the Omaha Heart.

The Bellevue, Nebraska native after two years at Highland and two years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe where she finished her college softball career and earned her bachelor's degree was in search of something to fulfill her competitive edge and that's where the LFL came into play. Crouch got in contact with a former coach that was coaching for the Omaha Heart and went for a workout and stuck as the teams quarterback.

"It was kind of intimidating at first. I kind of knew about football but didn't know all the ins and outs and what all goes into the quarterback position, so that was intimidating. As the season went on I got more into the groove of things and kind of assumed the role and everything just played out in my favor. I kind of fell in love with the position; having that leadership role just like I did in the catching position. It's been fun to play football," said Crouch about getting into the LFL and the experience.

Crouch led the Heart to a 2-2 record in the 2019 season throwing for 206 yards on 12-39 passing with four touchdowns, while rushing for 80 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns in four games.

During her time at Highland, Crouch was a part of a pair of Conference championship teams along with a Regional title and trip to Nationals. As a freshman she helped Highland to a 41-8 record and KJCCC East title while hitting .351 with 27 hits, 21 runs scored, 11 RBI, seven walks and four stolen bases. She followed that season up with a sophomore campaign that earned her first team All-District honors along with second team All-KJCCC honors. Lauren in 55 games her sophomore year hit .381 with 56 hits, 41 runs scored, 57 RBI, seven home runs, 24 walks and 11 stolen bases on a team that went 43-12 winning the KJCCC East title, a Region title and qualified for Nationals.

She remembers plenty about her days in Highland including playing softball. "Just in general our softball program. We were really community based and I really just loved that about Highland. Winning two Conference champions back-to-back, winning Regionals and that experience and just the coaching, the girls and how we played at a competitive level and together, it was just a memorable experience all around," said Crouch.

Crouch credits her time at Highland for helping her grow as a person and learn leading to the opportunity she earned with the LFL.

"Highland taught me a lot; just going into college right away you don't really know what to expect. Over those two years it (Highland) really grew on my heart; it's a small town but it's a family town. The atmosphere and the coaching; they taught me a lot about discipline and accountability that carried over into my DI opportunity and now football," said Crouch about her time at Highland.

Lauren finished the season with a broken collarbone and is on the mends from the injury but hopes to continue to play in the LFL and help grow the league or gain experience to be able to pursue other opportunities.