By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The “Getting to Know” series is designed to help the community learn more about the coaches and administrators that are guiding today’s Portage County student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today, we get to know Windham High School volleyball coach Lauryn Gintert, who is in her seventh season leading the Bombers.

Q: What schools did you attend growing up?

A: Lordstown.

Q: What year did you graduate high school?

A: 2000.

Q: What college did you attend?
A: The Columbus College of Art and Design and Kent State University (Class of 2005); Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, with a minor in Studio Arts.

Q: Current occupation?

A: K-12 Art teacher at Windham Exempted Village Schools.

Q: What inspired you to be a coach?

A: A desire to give the same rewarding experience that I received from playing volleyball.

Q: What makes being a coach at Windham special to you?
A: Being able to watch students grow from Kindergarten to Junior High creates a special bond when I continue to see them progress as artists and athletes through their high-school years.

Q: Who was your biggest influence/mentor as a coach?

A: Fran Davis. She grew up with my grandfather and his family, and I had heard about her since I was a kid. In the small world that we live in, I found my way to Windham where I learned even more about the barriers she broke and the legacy that she has left behind. She is beyond a role model. Fran is a true legend for all female athletes and coaches.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your playing days?

A: One morning, my sophomore year of high school, I accidentally walked into an art project I was working on that had an X-Acto knife attached to it and cut my knee open. I decided to try to tape it together so I could play that night. While jump serving, it popped open and was bleeding, and I had to come out. My mother was not too happy, but the coach respected my choice.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your coaching career?

A: My twin sister stopped to see me at work, when she walked into the gym to find me, all the players thought it was me. When I walked in the other door they completely froze, then freaked out.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: Gilmore Girls, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Pete’s Dragon (the original from 1978).

Q: Favorite musical artist?

A: Gregory Alan Isokov, Andrew Bird, Miranda Lambert.

Q: Favorite food/meal?

A: Sushi.

Q: Best vacation?

A: Pacific Northwest road trip.

Q: Favorte restaurant?

A: Mongolian BBQ, Salvatores, El Jalapeno.

Q: Favorite motto or quote?

A: “If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.” — Banksy

Q: Describe your coaching philosophy.

A: To provide an environment that instills determination, encourages persistence and facilitates individual accountability.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Bombers student-athlete?

A: Bombers are determined to overcome difficult circumstances. We don’t always have the most students on the court, but we make up for it in perseverance to achieve greatness. We see being underestimated as an opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.

Q: Favorite teacher from high school?

A: Joyce Mudrak. She was the high school art teacher and volleyball coach at Lordstown High School.

Q: Advice you would give the younger version of you?

A: Don’t make mountains out of mole hills.

Q: Favorite coach from your playing days?

A: Coach Joyce Mudrak.

Q: Coaching resume?

A: Newton Falls junior high volleyball (2006), Youngstown Eagle Heights Academy junior high (2007-09), Windham junior high (2012-15), Windham High School (2016-present).

Q: Shoutout to former teammates.

A: My twin sister and lifetime teammate Lindsay Adams.