Norfolk State University Athletics

2012 (Freshman Year): Earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors on Feb. 9 and then again on March 28 … Named the team’s Rookie of the Year … Posted a 12-9 overall singles record, including 3-3 in conference play … Also went 7-11 overall in doubles, 0-5 in MEAC play … Posted a 10-6 singles record at the No. 2 spot, 2-2 at the No. 1 spot and appeared in one match at the third position … Won five straight matches and 8-of-10 at one point during the year … Went 5-6 at No. 2 doubles and 2-5 at the No. 1 slot … Won four straight matches at one point during the year … Carried a 5-8 record with teammate Maryna Kariuk … Also competed with Naeemah Brooks and Kia Batiste in the early part of the season … Earned wins over Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Savannah State and Rider  in singles play.

High School: Won the championship at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Circuit Grade 4 tournament in Bogota in 2010 … In 2009 captured the doubles championship in the Grade 2 tournament in Medellin and the singles championship in the Grade 4 tournament in Bogota … Won the singles championship in the Grade 5 tournament in Bogota and the Grade 5 doubles championship in Bucaramanga in 2007 … Made the final of the Grade 2 tournament in Manizales and the semifinal of the Grade 2 tournament in Bogota in 2010 … Also made the semifinal of the Grade 2 tournament in Bucaramanga in 2009 … Advanced to the final of the Grade 2 tournament in Manizales in 2008, and to the semifinal of the Grade 1 tournament in Cali and the Grade 2 tournament in Armenia (Colombia) that year … Competed in the semifinal of the Grade 4 tournament in the country of Ecuador in 2007.

Personal: Full name is Laura C. Gutierrez … Born on Oct. 7, 1993 … Has one older sister, Paola … Majoring in building construction.