Season-ending Surgery Means New Role for Gymnast Meier

gymnastics is getting an early start in her chosen profession of teaching.

Although her route is unusual for someone who has yet to enter college. 

The Scout senior, who was a key contributor to last year’s second place finish at the State Meet, made her last competitive appearance Saturday before undergoing surgery Thursday to repair her hip. Now she will use her captaincy in a different way. 

“She’s helping with a beam routine and Lexi (Lee) with a floor routine,” said. “Katie’s job is changing. She has a new role.” 

Meier’s new role with the team will be that of teacher, assistant coach and inspirational leader. Besides working with Schmidt and Lee, she has been mentoring younger gymnasts for years at her club, the Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center.

“I love this,” said Meier. “When I grow up I want to be an elementary school teacher. I love kids and I can also help someone get through something.” 

Starting at the Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center in second grade, Meier has already been teaching younger gymnasts there both by leading classes and running birthday parties. She is demonstrating a talent for working with primary grade students. 

“It can be phenomenal to take something of you and give them new skills,” she said of her work with gymnasts in the early primary grades. “I lead them through routines."

With her teammates like Schmidt and Lee, Meier takes a more mature approach. She not only helps them create their routines, but she thinks she can be a bridge between her teammates and Straus. 

“I can tweak it a bit and I can give them an approach to get a good routine,” Meier said. “With Z (assistant coach Elizabeth White) and Straus, we can get a good routine.” 

Meier also knows how to inspire her teammates in her captain’s role. She will continue to do that as she undergoes the six month rehabilitation process she plans to put behind her before she enters college in the fall. 

Though she has been accepted to Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, she is undecided on her college choice as she awaits news from other schools she is considering. One thing is for sure. She has decided not to be a college gymnast. 

“Last year she (Meier) made us packets with different quotes at the State Meet,” said. “They were all different with quotes and pictures.”

Carlson said the gift helped her and her teammates relax en route to the program's best finish ever at State. 

Carlson was not the only Scout who appreciated the gift. and believed her messages had an impact. “She’s very inspirational,” McKeon said. “It (the packets) really helped us to focus on what we wanted to do.” 

The packet project was not a Meier original. The lone senior on the varsity team got the idea from last season’s only senior, . Meier was continuing a custom. “She has a good sense of the traditions here,” Straus said.

Meier has already left her legacy with the Scout gymnasts. Her 9.7 score on the balance beam is a school record, her floor exercise score ranks among the top 10 of all time at the school and she has held the runner-up trophy at the State Meet.