Hard working Laura Cohn makes her Mark

Laura Cohn has amassed a rather large collection of varsity letters during her high school career. Fourteen to be exact.

More importantly, she has collected memories and experiences along the way that she hopes has made her a better, more complete person.

And the impact she has made on the lives of her teammates that she has met along the way.

“It’s just so crazy to know that I made such an impact on the team and the younger girls,” Cohn said after the overwhelmingly kind words from teammates on senior night.

“I don’t know. It just didn’t even feel real that I’m the senior now.”

Cohn, a senior captain, is leading the way for the Kenmore West Lady Blue Devils during this Covid-19 shortened season.

For Cohn just to be able to step on the floor is a gift and a step towards life returning to normal.

“I’m just so thankful that we had a season,” she said. “I can’t (complain) saying our senior year is messed up. It’s shorter. I have to take advantage of the fact we have it, cause there’s people out there that didn’t have a season. I’m just thankful that we’re still playing and had a season.”

Getting pulled up to the varsity squad midway through eighth grade, Cohn has also scored four varsity letters in track and field. As well as three letters in cross-country before switching over to soccer where she collected three letters.

Lady Blue Devils head coach Jeff Martin has been with the program since day one. So he has seen every single girl that has put on the blue and white. While comparing one player to another in terms of all time greats is difficult because of the variables ranging from style of play changing to access to improved training methods. The one thing that is universal through all decades is effort. Hard work. The desire to be the best.

Martin said that when it comes to work ethic Laura Cohn absolutely ranks among the best.

“She’s right up there towards the top. That’s for sure,” Martin said. “She is by far the hardest worker game in and game out and in practice. No doubt. There’s no floating. She’ll guard the best player on the other team and do everything she possibly can to put the ball in the hoop.”

Cohn said that her work ethic is the thing she takes the most pride in because working hard and being accountable are the traits that will lead to success in her adult life.

“I feel like if I don’t work as hard as I can every single practice then I’m just wasting not only my potential, but you only have such a short amount of time here,” Cohn said. “So I just don’t see why you wouldn’t work your hardest and put everything you have into it.”

Make no mistake though Laura Cohn can put up numbers. As of March 15th she leads the Blue Devils in total points (159), rebounds (83), steals (44), assists (42) and points per game (13.2). Her 625 career points currently has her in ninth place on the Lady Blue Devils all-time board. Those numbers show that Cohn can back it up when she asks her teammates to do their best because that is what she is always giving.

“When you have your supposedly best player working their hardest every single day you’ve got something special,” said Martin.

Cohn has also learned how to deal with one of life’s most puzzling questions of no matter how hard you work or nice you try to be there will always be those who, for no particular reason, just don’t like you.

Much like a bad game though Cohn has learned to shake off negative vibes from others.

“I just brush it off. Especially if it’s untrue,” Cohn said. “I mean, not everyone is gonna like you.”

Teammate and close friend Julia Cipolla can’t fathom why or how anyone could dislike Cohn.

“She is one of the hardest working, encouraging people I know,” said Cipolla. “I’m so thankful I got to play with her these last two years.”

Not only teammates and friends, Cipolla and Cohn are also co-workers at DASH’s Market.

Cipolla said she sees Cohn’s mix of compassion and leadership in everything she does.

“You honestly would just have to spend five minutes with her to realize that she is not (full of herself). She is so nice,” Cipolla said. “Very approachable. I know she’s maybe a little intimidating on the court, but she is so great. She’s always very positive and pumping us up.”

Jeff Martin agreed as he praised Cohn as being a young lady who has always shown him and the other basketball coaches nothing but respect.

“She’s a pleasure to coach,” said Martin. “There are some people who have a wrong impression of her because she has left other (athletic) programs because she just doesn’t enjoy them anymore.”

Still focused on basketball and the remainder of her senior year Cohn also can’t help but be excited about the future as she recently committed to play soccer for D2 Berry University in Miami, Florida.

“Its so exciting it was a really stressful process especially with Covid happening during the main recruiting time,” Cohn said. “It’s super exciting cause soccer is my favorite sport although I wish I could keep playing basketball. It’s something I’m just super happy I get to play for at least another four years.”

Feature Image Courtesy of Jennifer Rumschik