Junior teammates became friends, roommates and scholars

Kentucky juniors, from left, Lauren Tharp, Cameron Scheitzach and Ali Stumler celebrating UK's SEC championship last season. (UK Athletics Photo)

Before they became volleyball teammates and roommates at the University of Kentucky, they sort of knew each other but never really envisioned a terrific friendship might develop. Lauren Tharp of Louisville and All Stumler of Floyds Knob, Ind., had played club volleyball against each other and they had met Cameron Scheitzach of Orland at camp. They lived in the dorm at UK their freshmen year before moving to an apartment the last two years.

“We always say it is interesting how we get along. There are never any complaints about each other, or at least not that I know of,” said Tharp. “We have never had any fights, or at least not yet.”

They have been part of three straight Southeastern Conference championship teams and now are part of the first national championship team at UK.

This year the three roommates/teammates were among 24 UK student-athletes chosen for induction into the Frank Ham Society of Character who have shown an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, and career preparation.

“Those are the things you are very proud of as a coach,” said UK coach Craig Skinner. “It’s not just how fast you can run, how high you can jump, or how hard you hit. It’s about how you interact with people on campus and the academic side. It’s the whole person, something we talk a lot about in recruiting. To have three off our team selected in one year is an honor and it is kind of weird that they are also all three roommates.”

Tharp said none of the three knew the others received the honor until UK posted the announcement.

“It was kind of funny when we found out,” Tharp aid. “It’s been great. We are really close and are best friends along with roommates and teammates. It’s great being surrounded by people who make you want to be better and give back to the community. We all have the same mindset and giving back attitude and it’s easy because when somebody wants to do some type of community service, we all just hop in and go.”

Scheitzach is a kinesiology major who plans to obtain a Masters of Public Health and become a physician’s assistant. Stumler is an elementary education major and Tharp a special education major. All were National Honor Society members in high school.

“Ali and I were in some classes together this semester,” Tharp said. “We are not super competitive academically because we like to try and understand each other’s major. Over dinner a lot of times we talk about what we did that day. It’s just awesome to hear about their successes.”

They didn’t have time to talk about the honor a lot because it was announced during their season but Tharp said it was “more rewarding” than other others because it recognized their character more than what they did on the volleyball court.

“Craig has always been a person to emphasize giving back to the community,” Stumler said. “As soon as you get on campus he talks about giving back and how you can make an impact off the court and being involved is something that is part of our team.”

Even the pandemic didn’t stop the three from finding ways to give back during UK’s championship season thanks to help from the UK staff.

“It has been harder to do this year but through Zoom calls with children at the hospital we got to talk about volleyball and our lives. Finding little ways to do that was difficult with the pandemic but something that was still important to do,” Tharp said.