University of North Carolina Athletics
My Carolina Experience: Lori Spingola
January 27, 2016 | Softball
My Carolina Experience: Lori Spingola
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
In her senior year, Lori Spingola became the winningest pitcher in UNC softball history. Garnering 108 career wins and over 1,000 strikeouts, Spingola became the second ever softball player in the program's history to reach that mark.
“During my high school career, I was named an All-America, I won two state championships with my high school team, and a national championship with my travel fast pitch softball team. I was recruited by several NCAA Division I universities, particularly in the Southeast, and during that process I visited UNC. I felt automatically connected with the coaches and the team, and I recognized that UNC was the place that could help me to achieve my goals both on and off the field.
“In my eyes, UNC was not only a place where I could compete at a high level in the sport that I loved, it was a place where I could participate in a community that would drive me to be a better person. The values and way of life that the UNC tradition stands for were things I knew I wanted to be a part of and live out.
“Arriving as a freshman at UNC, I was mostly focused on becoming a better pitcher, and leading my team to the CollegeWorld Series. My goal was to be the best pitcher to ever step foot on Carolina's campus. As my career progressed, I confronted obstacles and personal struggles that every student-athlete faces and unfortunately those obstacles prevented be from reaching my goals for the team.
“The silver lining was the realization that I had gained so much more from the game I love. Regardless of if I was pitching a shutout or losing a big game, softball at UNC gave me the platform to challenge myself by facing my fears head-on and persevering through pressure and hardships.”
Though Spingola did not leave UNC with a College World Series title that was in no way due to a lack of effort. Outside of becoming the winningest pitcher in the program's history she was also named ACC pitcher of the week 11 times during her career, and she broke at least one school record every season.
During the 2012 season alone, Spingola was named ACC Pitcher of the Year in addition to breaking the single season record for wins and innings pitched. She tied the school record for starts and appearances during a single season, struck out 333 hitters, and had two no-hitters, all in that same year.
What made Spingola even more special as a student-athlete was the difference she made off the field. During her time at UNC, Spingola established herself in the outreach and leadership building culture that is part of Carolina Athletics. As a Veteran Leader in the Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy, her competitive spirit was something she strove to instill and nurture in all of her teammates. As a CREED mentor the bCLA values were something she tried to instill in up and coming student athletes on all of Carolina's varsity teams.
Being so imbedded in Carolina's athletic culture led Spingola to take her outreach responsibilities a step further when she co-founded Champions for Change with teammate Elly Wagner.
Through Champions for Change a family is allowed an inside look into the game day routine of the softball team. The program gives the family of a person with physical or intellectual disabilities a chance to feel like they are a part of something special. It was created in conjunction with The Arc, a not-for-profit organization in Chapel Hill whose sole purpose is to help integrate people with special needs into the community.
Since its inception in 2013, Champions for Change has become a staple in the softball team's outreach efforts. The opportunity, like many of Carolina's outreach programs is beneficial not only to those it was created to aid but to the athletes who make it so special.
Athletes involved in Champions for Change acknowledge their position at Carolina as an opportunity to give back and see beyond themselves and their sport.
“While at Carolina, I learned that it isn't always about me. I learned that in order to become a better leader sometimes you have to sacrifice for your teammates, coaches and the community.
“I have always been a driven person, but before Carolina that meant that most of the time I secluded myself, and only focused on my personal achievements. It taught me empathy for others and encouraged me to reach out to the community and want to make a difference.”
Since graduating, Spingola has continued her career in softball in that same spirit in Mann eim, Germany, continuing to play professionally for the Tornadoes. She has also become the director of marketing for Natural Resource Innovations GmbH, an environmental, engineering, architecture and geospatial technology firm.
Though playing it safe and seeking a career after college in the U.S. would have been easy, that is not what Spingola took away from her Carolina Experience. At Carolina, Spingola learned that taking chances on expanding your outlook on the world is the best and most fulling way to live. She feels blessed that that same mentality has allowed her to not only find a fulfilling career using her public relations degree, but it has also encouraged her to continue living out her dreams on the field, learning in new surroundings, and feeling as though every day is an adventure.
