Lauren Matula shows resiliency with state swimming gold; Tony Laurito leads Friendswood
AUSTIN — The journey to the state podium has been a long one for Lauren Matula. Less than two years ago, the Lake Creek junior had a metal bar remo...
AUSTIN — The journey to the state podium has been a long one for Lauren Matula. Less than two years ago, the Lake Creek junior had a metal bar removed from her chest. It was surgically placed there to treat Pectus Excavatum, a condition in which the sternum is caved in due to abnormal growth in the chest cavity. The bar took her out of swimming for a year, and it took another sixth months to fully recover after its removal. Since that time, her trajectory as a swimmer has continued to rise. Now, she's reached the pinnacle.