By Adam Riglian
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Tue Dec 08, 2009, 02:46 AM EST
HANSON - Sam Mewis is one of the best athletes Massachusetts has to offer. It’s true, there’s no doubting it.
And now, after three fantastic years in the midfield at Whitman-Hanson High School, and time spent on the U17 and U20 U.S. women’s national teams, the junior has finally found a college to match her talent and ambition.
Mewis will head west to sunny California, to UCLA, the school she made a verbal commitment to attend in the fall of 2011. The Bruins have one of the top women’s soccer programs in the country, not to mention sunshine, beaches and strong academics.
“The major reason I chose UCLA was because I’ve had the coach (Jillian Ellis) as a national coach before, I really like her style of coaching,” Mewis said. “The girls were really welcoming and nice, it’s California so obviously the weather’s great. It was the right pick for me.”
Mewis said she isn’t certain on her field of study, although her interests currently lie in physical therapy, kinesiology and physical science.
While she has plenty of time to decide, the period between now and Day One of school isn’t exactly a vacation. The regular trials and troubles of a high school student aside, Mewis, a Hanson resident, is currently training for a spot on the U20 U.S. women’s national team, which is headed to Guatemala in January to play in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for July’s U20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Germany. Her sister Kristie, who currently plays for Boston College, is also training for the squad.
“I think I have more to prove being one of the younger ones,” Mewis said. “I have to work harder at home and try to keep up, because most of the girls are in a college season.
“It’s so exciting, it is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’m so glad I am involved in it.”
Athletically, Mewis counts her time with the Panthers as another one of those “best experiences,” particularly this season, when she, along with a strong supporting cast, won the Div. 1 South Sectional title before bowing out in the state semifinals. Panthers’ coach David Floeck couldn’t say enough about Mewis importance to that run.
“Sam’s great, the soccer stuff aside, I mean obviously anybody who sees her play recognized her talent,” Floeck said. “All of that’s great, but in terms of coaching her, she’s just a phenomenal kid.
“She’s the first one to pick up equipment, she earns the respect of all her teammates ... She has the true mark of leadership, which is to get someone to do what they need to do, without them getting upset when you’re telling them to do it.”
“She’s like having another coach on the field as well, she’ll at different times, during a break, she’ll tell one of the younger players that you want to cut inside on that run or vice versa.
“Her playing ability obviously makes everybody around her better, with that type of skill. It’s amazing the impact she has on the team with her personality and leadership.”
Mewis’ talents and work ethic have done a great deal for the Panthers’ soccer program, which is one of the best in the state. The team’s success this season bodes well for their future, and perhaps a chance to take home a state title.
“It’s definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had with a team,” Mewis said of her high school club. “Socially we were real close, we had no drama. Everyone did such a good job, we worked so hard in practice and everybody wanted to go as far as they could.
“I wish it wasn’t over, I’m doing track right now and it’s kind of said, I miss soccer.”
She may miss it, but it isn’t going anywhere. There will certainly be a lot of soccer in her future. After next season’s high school campaign, and presumably a second World Cup appearance (she played in the U17 Women’s World Cup), she’ll be a Bruin, playing on one of the most competitive teams in women’s college soccer. UCLA has made 13 NCAA tournaments and won nine Pac-10 Championships since the program’s inception in 1993.
“With each team and each different personality, I grow more and I think it keeps me interested and working hard in the sport,” Mewis said.
If things keep to form, it won’t be long before Mewis will be on the full-fledged national team, perhaps even by 2011, when the U.S. women will have the opportunity to travel to Germany for the Women’s World Cup.
Sectional title to world title in two years? Now that would be a feat.
Adam Riglian can be reached at ariglian@enterprisenews.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment