Gavin Meng is a junior here at Shadow Ridge and a varsity captain for the soccer team. Gavin has had a love for soccer for most of his life. Since he was about three or four years old, he’s been good from the start—playing in little leagues and growing from there.
Meng stated, “I started playing soccer when I was about 3 or 4, and I was really good, so I just kept playing.”
Starting off with natural talent, Meng continued to play, developing his skills each year. He shared one of the reasons he kept playing: “Prime Barca inspired me to play. Just the way they played was so beautiful.”
Meng is a great player dedicated to the wing position. He said, “I like it because I get to dribble and score goals.”
Along with dedication, Meng also finds motivation from his teammates.
“I look up to Elliot Iniguez and Erik Nava,” Meng said. “Just the way they score goals and lift the team is very inspiring.”
Head Coach Brian LaVoie added, “Gavin is one of the hardest-working soccer players I’ve ever had in my 35-plus years of coaching. He works constantly on the field.”
Meng shows his dedication to the sport by working hard, showing that he wants to be there, and always maintaining a strong work ethic.
Soccer has also taught him more than just how to play the game. It’s helped him develop teamwork, life skills, and the ability to handle both wins and losses.
“I’ve learned lots of lessons, like how to deal with people you don’t like and how to cope with people who are different from me,” Meng said. “I’ve also had to deal with losses, which I’ve learned to use as motivation to keep working hard.”
Through many years of playing on the field, Meng has grown into a leading captain for the boys’ varsity team and continues to set a great example for his teammates.
LaVoie said, “He keeps his grades up, he’s a great example for the younger kids, he’s always on time, and he always works hard.” Lavoie continued, “Those are just great leadership qualities to have in any player.”
Gavin has shown true leadership both on and off the field. He continues playing and loving the sport, hoping to one day win state. His passion has only grown throughout the years of dedication, and he continues to improve with every practice, every challenge, and every memory.
