Years of hard work and dedication have paid off for NYU assistant fencing coach Lauren Willock.

The Louisville native was one of 24 athletes named to the U.S. National Fencing Team last month. The national team will represent the U.S. at the 2010 Senior World Championships in Paris this November.

Her placement on the U.S. squad comes after an encouraging performance in July at the U.S. Fencing Summer National Championships in Atlanta, where she placed 13th overall.

“I am very happy to have earned my spot on the team,” Willock said. “I worked really hard all season and it’s nice to see that pay off. Now I’m focused on training hard to do well in Paris.”

Considering Willock’s history of athletic accomplishment, success in Paris is a realistic goal.

The coach enjoyed a stellar career while an undergraduate at NYU, compiling a team epee record of 170-54. In 2005, she earned second-team All-American honors, winning a career best 54 bouts.

Although Willock graduated in 2007, her passion for both fencing and NYU athletics has never been stronger.

As an assistant coach for the men and women’s teams, Willock has helped qualify 14 NYU student-athletes for the NCAA Fencing Championships. In Willock’s first season, four athletes qualified for the NCAA championships and the teams placed 16th nationally.

“My love of the sport is just as strong as ever, I’m so thankful for everything fencing has given me and I plan to stick with it.”

This winter she will begin her fourth season on the NYU staff.

“Coaching has taught me so much more about fencing,” she said. “There are things that a coach can see, like timing and distance, which you experience differently when you’re fencing. Now I try to look at bouts from both perspectives to get a fuller picture and plan.”

For now, Willock is in Costa Rica, training to improve her performance. She said her goal for Paris is to finish in the top eight and to take her refined skills back to NYU.

“I’m looking forward to the NYU fencing season. We’re all a big family. Hopefully I can share my experience in Paris with the team.”