Written by Sports Information Intern Jeff Hoedt
BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College women’s basketball player Lindsay Meek, a native of Port Clinton, Ohio who currently resides with her husband, Tony, in Huron, has already gone through her share of life’s challenges before ever arriving on the Berea based campus.
Now, as a senior, Meek, a health and physical education major, wants meet today’s challenge head-on. She wants to lead the Yellow Jackets to an Ohio Athletic Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division III National Playoffs.
Prior to her arrival at B-W, challenges such as marriage and dealing with the death of her twin sister and best friend, Laura, took a big back seat to playing intercollegiate women’s basketball at age 28 and completing her college degree. Whether wanting to or not, life has forced Meek to face both set of challenges head on, and she has responded by pursuing a future career as a teacher and coach.
Meek returned to the basketball court last winter after taking several years off from school and sports to help take care of her sister Laura who had contracted cancer while the two attended the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Meek originally began her college experience 10 years ago.
During her first season back, Meek played the majority of the season with a torn ACL that she suffered before the year began. She played in 15 games and averaged 2.3 points per game. B-W finished 25-5 overall, advanced to the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship game and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III National Playoffs, but Meek knew she still had more to prove.
"I knew that it would be tough last year, playing with pain and a knee that was not 100 percent healthy," said Meek. "I love the game of basketball so I decided to just play through it."
This season, she has seen action in all 18 games and has helped the Yellow Jackets to a 16-3 overall record and another national ranking prior to B-W playing host to OAC rival Heidelberg College this Wednesday (February 4, 2004) at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea at 7:30 p.m.
"Our goals are to win the OAC title and make it back to the NCAA Tournament," said Meek. "We are having a good season and we know with hard work that it can get even better."
Meek has also gotten healthier and better. She has increased her scoring average to 5.3 ppg. and is second among regulars in Head Coach Cheri Harrer’s rotation in the field shooting as she has connected on 38 of 70 shots from the floor for 54.3 percent. Two weeks ago, a a game against Wilmington College, Harrer rewarded Meek with her first vareer start and she responded by scoring a career-high 21 points and canned eight of 12 shots from the floor.
"Lindsay is a young woman with a great deal of talent in many, many areas," said Harrer, who is the winningest women’s basketball coach in Yellow Jacket history.
"Lindsay has gone through some tough times already in her life and has persevered and is succeeding to achieve her career goals," said Harrer. "She has the utmost respect from every person in our basketball program. She is a great team player who always gives at least 110 percent. She is an outstanding student who is going to be an outstanding teacher and coach. She is an excellent role model and leader for the younger players our program. And, she is a good wife who receives great support from her family. We are very lucky to have her at Baldwin-Wallace College and as a member of our women’s basketball program."
Despite not having played intercollegiate basketball for several years leading up to her return last season, Meek never really completely abandoned her love for the game.
During that time, Meek coached at a local high school and also played in a competitive men’s league along side her husband Tony.
"I have always loved playing basketball and by coaching and playing in a men’s league with my husband, I never really was away from the sport." said Meek, who carries a 3.98 grade average and is a candidate for both CoSIDA Academic All-Distyrict IV and Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors.
One of the biggest challeges she faced while playing in a men’s league was not that she was playing against men, but rather she had to get used to shooting a men’s regulation sized basketball instead of a woman’s ball.
While at Port Clinton High School, Lindsay and Laura Meek were outstanding students and basketball players. The pair were also recruited by Baldwin-Wallace during high school, but a full scholarship offer to attend Massachusetts-Lowell made the decision an easy one. While there, both saw action on the court d wee having a successful experience. In fact, Laura finished sixth nationally in Division II in three-point shooting as a sophomore. But that is when Laura was diagnosed with brain cancer and was forced to leave school to receive treatment. Meek would also decide to leave the basketball team and the University to help her sister.
Meek spent most of her time helping her sister with everyday activities and taking her to the doctors and working in an office alongside Tony. Then one day she got a funny feeling to call home.
"I shared a strong connection with my sister." said Meek. "Maybe it was that indentical twin sister E.S.P., but whatever it was, it seemed to grow when she became ill. "I could sense when something was wrong. If she felt bad, I felt bad even if I was at work and she was at home.
"On this particular day, I knew something was wrong, so I called home and one of my family members answered crying." said Meek. "I was told to come home so I had my husband drive me home which was only about two mintues away. "The whole way there, Tony went as fast he could until I told him to slow down because I knew that she wasn’t going to die that day."
Minutes later, Meek arrived at home to find her sister still alive. She spent the day next to her twin sister and sure enough, Laura would not lose her battle with cancer until the following day.
Not too long there after, Meek decided to finish what she started and go back to school.
"I knew that going back to school was something that Laura would have wanted me to do." said Meek, who also has 17 assists and eight steals and averages 10.9 minutes of playing time per game.
After seven years out of college, Meek applied and was accepted to Ashland University. She had also received a scholarship from the University, but later found out that the basketball program was not going to accept any walk-ons. So, she decided to place a call to B-W Head Coach Cheri Harrer who tried to recruit Meek and her sister right out of high school.
"Coach Harrer called me and my sister a lot when we were in high school." said Meek. "Sometimes she wasn’t sure which one she was talking to. It was kind of funny. We used to laugh about it alot. Sometimes, we’d even try to fool her."
Coach Harrer gladly set aside a spot on the team for Meek and that following fall semester, Meek became a Yellow Jacket. Now Meek was faced with another challege, playing on and competing against younger players throughout the league.
"At first I did feel as though I had to prove that I belonged on the team," said Meek. "But after a while, I enjoyed what my teammates had to offer me and vice-versa."
"Lindsay provides a maturity and a different outlook on life from our usual 18 to 22 year-old team members," said Harrer. "She has been an excellent leader for us and the players have learned that they can go to her to discuss things that are bothering them, whether they are basketball related or not."
Not only has Meek received a lot of support from her teammates and coach over the last two years, she has received great support from her family, especially from her husband.
"Tony has been very supportive." said Meek. "He travels to every game and he is one of my biggest critics." "On a trip back from an away game, he kept telling me what I did wrong and how to correct it. He also does it in a very positive way; one that is appreciated."
Over the last two years, Meek has played a pivotal role coming off the bench for the Yellow Jackets. While on the court, she becomes one the leaders trying to make those around her better.
"I try to lead by example," said Meek. "If no one sees me in the gym practicing, then something’s wrong because I am always practicing trying to make myself a better player."
"Lindsay has adjusted to playing in the post (forward/ center)." said Harrer, a native of Plymouth, Ohio and a graduate of Colonel Crawford High School and the University of Findlay. "She has continued to improve and learn. She works extremely hard, putting in extra time shooting."
Coach Harrer is not the only one who has taken notice of the improvements that Meek has made during her one and one-half years of playing basketball at B-W. Her teammates have also seen the changes that she has made to better her game.
"Lindsay has a great basketball mind and she can see things on the court," said senior forward Erika Schultz, a native of Waterville and a graduate of Anthony Waynbe High School near Toledo. " I love being on the floor with her because she can always make that great pass, or set an outstanding screen. Her intangibles makes everyone on the floor look good."
"She works hard during practice and games and seems to be more comfortable and confident this year," said junior guard Stephanne Musser from Miamisburg. "She puts in a lot of extra time shooting and working on different apects of the game that she might struggle with. She is a great natural leader by just being herself."
In addition to being a leader on the court, Meek is also a leader in the classroom. While balancing married life and athletics, Meek has found the time to do well in her studies highlighted by an outstanding grade point average. She would like to someday coach basketball again at some level. Whether it be at the high school level again or college or maybe even higher. With her desire to coach basketball, coach Harrer has been a role model for Meek who also is her academic advisor at B-W.
"Coach Harrer’s love for the game and her players is inspirational," said Meek. "She has a lot to offer everybody." "We seem to have a special relationship beyond the player-coach relationship that already exists. In many ways, we are also good friends."
Many would agree that Meek has already lived a full life at age 28, filled with ups and downs. She contributes a lot of her outlook on life in memory of her sister.
"Laura was someone who would never give up." said Meek. "She was always living her life to the fullest and she has taught me to do the same.
"Her death helped put things in perspective for me and since then, I have wanted to help and influence the lives of others." added Meek. "That is why I want to teach and coach. I want to be able to make a difference in the life of another person."
Lindsay and her family have already helped and influenced the lives of many people. Together, Meek and her family host a charity golf tournament in Laura’s memory to benefit those who live with cancer. Some of the cancer foundations that they have donated to include the "Make a Wish Foundation" and "Cancer for Society." Meek’s family has given money to many families of those who have loved ones living with cancer. They have also given scholarship money to young students who have just gradutated high school and are wanting to go on to college. This year will mark the sixth year of the event and to date, Meek’s family has raised over $30,000 for cancer foundations and in scholarship money.
"Each student who applies for one of the scholarships has to write an essay explaining why he or she deserves the scholarship." said Meek. "Then when we find those people who really know what the scholarships are all about, it makes it all worth it to see their faces when we give them the money.
"We also give away a number of raffle prizes every year at the golf tournament." added Meek. "We have had Jim Thome and his wife play in the event and he has donated signed baseball bats to give away. It is a very worthwhile endeavor. I am sure that Laura is smiling every year."
Meek has definately proven to be a role model for anyone and everyone. She has taken a situation that would cause many people to give up on life; but instead has turned it around to help others around her. On the basketball court, she has proven that age doesn’t matter when the right kind of work ethic, attitude and support exist. Perhaps later this season, Meek and the rest of her teammates along with her family and friends, and Laura, will be celebrating an OAC Championship.
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