Before we dive into the excitement of a new school year, we want to take a moment to recognize one of Lakewood’s rising stars. Lena Taylor has wrapped up her middle school years with a string of incredible accomplishments, both on and off the field. Her journey through the Lakewood feeder pattern is a testament to what hard work, heart, and hometown pride can achieve—and her story is one the entire community can celebrate.

Lena’s athletic journey began early through local leagues like the YMCA and SVAA. While attending Lakewood Elementary, she developed a passion for competing and staying active. By the time she reached JL Long, that love for sports blossomed into full-on dedication. In 7th grade, Lena played soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball, making the A Team in softball and soccer. As goalie, she helped lead the JL Long soccer team to an undefeated season and a City Championship.

In 8th grade, Lena earned a spot on the A Team in all four sports: soccer, softball, volleyball, and basketball, and helped lead her teams to a historic year. Every team went undefeated in regular season play, and three out of four made deep playoff runs. Volleyball and soccer both claimed City Championships, and basketball brought home the District title.

At the JL Long Athletic Banquet held on May 18, Lena was recognized for her grit, leadership, and versatility, walking away with three top honors: Girls Basketball MVP, the Ironwoman Award, and the coveted Female Athlete of the Year trophy.

But more than anything, Lena learned how to be a true team player, often the loudest cheerleader on the court, lifting up her teammates with encouragement, energy, and positivity.

Much of that spirit can be traced back to her mom, Nancy, who coached her in basketball through her elementary years in rec leagues, leading her teams to undefeated seasons and nurturing Lena’s love for competition. Nancy also (accidentally) discovered Lena’s knack for tennis while looking for a partner and convincing her to try it out. Despite only picking up the sport weeks prior, Lena earned a spot on the Woodrow Wilson JV tennis team as a freshman.

Next year, Lena will attend Woodrow Wilson High School and has been accepted into the P-TECH program, where she’ll take college-level courses and graduate with both her high school diploma and associate degree. She plans to continue playing volleyball and basketball, in addition to tennis. She also wrapped up her 8th grade year with straight A’s.

When she’s not playing sports, one of Lena’s favorite things to do is attend Lakepointe Church’s United program on Wednesday nights. She’s also passionate about serving others and has spent the past two summers in Guatemala, painting elementary schools and interacting with the kids through the Cooperative for Education.

This summer, she’ll attend church camp with Lakepointe before heading to Honduras with her dad to serve with Aerial Recovery, helping to renovate an aftercare facility for children with HIV/AIDS. Then she’ll wrap up the summer visiting family in Germany—and yes, she’s fluent in German, holding dual citizenship.

Whether it’s in the classroom, on the court, or in the community, Lena Taylor represents the very best of what Lakewood kids can become—resilient, kind-hearted, and ready to take on the world. And with plans to launch her own babysitting business for families in Lakewood, the early signs of an entrepreneur are already shining through.

As Lena prepares for high school and all the new opportunities ahead, we can't wait to cheer her on in this next chapter. Whether she’s leading a team, serving abroad, or chasing big dreams right here in Lakewood, one thing’s for sure—Lena Taylor’s story is just getting started, and we’re excited to watch it unfold.