September 9, 2025
Launched in 2023 to celebrate MPA’s rich athletic tradition, MPA is proud to announce the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees: David McGaha, longtime coach and mentor; Lauren LaRoche ’99, alum athlete; and Olivia (Lansing) Herrick ’06, alum athlete. Please take a moment to read about Olivia (Lansing) Herrick ’06!
What was your greatest accomplishment during your time as an athlete at MPA?
Technically, it was probably getting runner-up at the state tournament, but I would argue that seeing the girls on my golf teams make it to state was even more rewarding.
What is your happiest memory of your time at MPA?
I have so many positive memories of my time at MPA—I remember the thrill of two-a-day soccer practices in August. Running sprints to the fence at the track. I truly don’t have a lot of memories of wins—or losses—but I remember the feeling of working towards something together, as a group. I remember the way the soccer field felt in the fall or the Kreischer Gym felt in the winter. I remember bus rides and laughter and the pure elation (and heartbreak) that only sports can capture.
When you look back on your time at MPA, what is one thing you would change or do differently?
I appreciated my time at MPA in the moment and recognize how lucky I was, but I wish I had just sat in that a bit more. And, I may have swapped in cross-country skiing for a winter sport in my last two years now that I enjoy it a lot as an adult.
How did your time at MPA shape your future?
MPA had an incredible impact on my future by setting me up for success in life, not even necessarily academically, but just as a steward of the world and someone who seeks to understand others. MPA athletics taught me the value of teamwork, respect, delayed gratification, and the discipline of showing up and giving your all with no promise of success— all of which have served me well in life.
What is one piece of advice that you would share with MPA athletes?
Play a sport every season. Take every opportunity to grow as a person and an athlete and expand your horizons. Learn from your coaches and respect them. Ask questions and stay curious.
In what ways did the school support you during your time at MPA?
MPA supported me by creating an environment where I was known, understood, and encouraged to try new things. Teachers pushed us to be our best, but were also a soft place to land when life got hard. I felt that I had a tremendous amount of opportunity at MPA, and it equipped me with a worldview that has allowed me to move through life as a compassionate human being.
What impact do you hope you had on others at MPA?
I hope my peers remember me as a kind, upbeat, glass-half-full team player. I hope that the athletes I coached remember me as a fun coach who helped them to achieve their potential while also not taking the process too seriously.
Who at MPA had the greatest influence on you?
I would confidently say that the physical education staff, specifically the women in the department (although I have nothing but gratitude for the men) had a tremendous impact on me. Ms. Stoltz, Ms. Sam, Ms. Doc––they showed us that being athletic was cool. We changed into our gym clothes and gave it every ounce of effort we could day in and day out. No one was too cool for any activity. We were competitive, driven, and participatory, and they set an amazing example for me as an athlete and a woman.
What is something about you or your time at MPA that few people know?
We had a very strict three-sport rule in our family—you had to play a sport every season, and there were NO exceptions. I broke my thumb at basketball practice my sophomore year and convinced my dad that I should focus on golf the next winter instead of basketball, so I didn’t get injured again. I ended up getting a full-ride DI college scholarship, very directly related to the training I did that junior winter. So even though it was terrible in the moment, it significantly shaped the course of my life!
Click here to make a gift in honor of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and help build a strong future for MPA athletics.
