Story and Video by Maddie Hiatt
Megan Oostendorp is the only freshmen to play on the varsity girl’s soccer team in the 2010-11 school year.
“She’s aggressive, she plays hard, she’s a skillful player and being aggressive is a good skill,” Varsity Assistant Coach Larry Scheller said about Megan.
Megan started playing soccer at a very young age.. Soccer seems to run in Oostendorp family.
“Madi [Megan’s younger sister] and I played on the same team, I started when I was three and Brooke [Megan’s older sister] started when she was four or five,” Megan said.
You’d think that having a freshmen playing on a team with juniors and seniors would cause problems and/or drama but that’s not the case with this varsity team.
“The [varsity] team treats her like she’s been on the team since day one,” midfielder Christina Conley said.
Making the varsity team is a challenge. Megan plays for St. Louis Scott Gallagher when high school soccer is not in session. Playing on a select team means you are always playing soccer.
“It’s fun playing year round because it keeps you in shape and you get to see your friends and get to play all the time,” Megan said.
At the beginning of the year Oostendorp was originally put on the JV team but played with varsity too. It wasn’t until mid April that she was officially moved up. She now plays stopper or wing back on the varsity team.
“[Mark] Olwig handed me a varsity jacket during practice and everyone cheered,” Megan said.
Naturally one would think that some of the JV players would be jealous that Megan was moved up and not be nice to her but that’s not the case.
“They [JV players] are very supportive and happy for me,” Megan said.
Having good ball skills is a big part of playing soccer. Since varsity is fast, you have to be ready to do something smart with the ball.
“She’s very good at head balls, she bodies people off the ball and distributes well,” forward Kelsey Fouch said.
Head balls aren’t her only good quality according to Scheller.
“She’s aggressive and works her hardest,” Scheller said.
Most varsity players are happy about Megan making the varsity team her freshmen year.
“She works hard and deserves her spot,” Midfielder Maddie McMillen said.
Playing with all girls older than you on top of being the only freshmen can make the butterflies in your stomach start fluttering and make the pressure on you increase. But it’s also good to get to know older people who have been in the same situation.
“It’s fun and cool having teammates in other grades,” Megan said.
It’s a little early to know now if Megan could make it as a professional soccer player according to Scheller but Megan isn’t going to give up.
“I plan to play in college for sure,” Megan said.
