Dr. Lauren Witmer has flown under the radar for her tennis career. She excelled locally at Lancaster Catholic High School and then thrived at Millersville University during the mid-to-late 1990s. Her past success was recognized once again on January 14, when she received the 2026 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in Washington, D.C.
Lancaster Catholic High School (1993–97)
- #1 Singles Player, 10th through 12th grades; #2 Singles Player as a freshman
- Ranked #1 in District III in Mixed Doubles during her junior year
- Qualified for the State Tournament in Singles as a senior
- Competed in track & field from 10th through 12th grades, qualifying for Districts in javelin
Millersville University (1997–2000)
- Four-year letter winner in tennis
- Named PSAC Conference Player of the Year in her junior and senior seasons
- Ranked #1 in both Singles and Doubles in her junior and senior seasons
- Named Millersville University Athlete of the Year in her junior and senior years
- Led Millersville to four consecutive PSAC Championships
- Helped Millersville reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals four times
- Finished her career with the most doubles wins in a single season (31) and in a career (107), and her combined singles (90) and doubles (107) wins rank third in school history
- Career records: 107-23 in doubles (a school record) and 90-23 in singles
- Inducted into the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Lancaster County Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017
NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (2026)
In 2026, Witmer received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes individuals on the 25th anniversary of their college athletic careers and celebrates student-athletes who excelled professionally while upholding the values of collegiate athletics. The award was presented at the NCAA Honors Celebration on January 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Also honored with the 2026 award were Drew Brees (Purdue football, Super Bowl MVP), Tamika Catchings (Tennessee women's basketball, Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star), and Nick Ackerman (who won an NCAA wrestling championship without the use of his legs).
First presented in 1973, the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award has been given to 311 individuals — a list that includes standout athletes, statesmen, and others who have excelled in difference-making professions, such as Mia Hamm, Troy Aikman, and Todd Blackledge. Witmer is one of only five Division II graduates to receive the award, and she joins Ed Bradley (football and track, Cheyney) as one of just two PSAC alumni to be honored. She also joins astronaut Sally Ride ('98) as one of only five tennis players recognized.
Professional Career
Witmer is a physician and surgeon specializing in urogynecology. She currently serves as Division Chief and managing physician at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, where she was named 2024 Physician of the Year. She has also shown a strong commitment to global health, including a medical mission in Guatemala.