Messer excited to be a part of Highland’s inaugural soccer program

Louisburg senior Morgan Messer signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Highland Community College this fall.

Five years ago, Morgan Messer and
her parents were one of several Louisburg families that helped raise money to
begin the Louisburg High School girls soccer program.

Messer, along with many others, helped
start something new that turned into a powerhouse program in Class 4-1A rather
quickly that produced three state final four appearances and two
state-runner-up finishes.

It was a time that was special to
the Louisburg High School senior and she is hoping that same success translates
to the college level.

In front of family and friends in
a signing ceremony at Louisburg High School, Messer signed her letter of intent
on March 11 to play soccer at Highland Community College. She will be a member
of Highland’s first women’s soccer team as it begins its inaugural season this
fall.

“I think it is kind of cool that
my family was one of the ones that helped start Louisburg girls soccer and now
I am going for the start of Highland’s program,” Messer said. “All of the
players will be freshmen and it is cool to make history again like that.

“As I go in it is a brand new
program. The thing that stuck out to me was the coach’s passion for the game.
He pointed out some things that I didn’t see in myself and it really showed
that he cared. It is cool to see how small their class sizes were and that you
would have a lot more 1-on-1 time with professors. It all just seemed like a
family.”

Before this all came about,
however, Messer wasn’t even sure if she wanted to play soccer in college. She
didn’t know if the opportunity was going to be there, but decided to play in
one last showcase tournament about a month ago.

That tournament changed Messer’s
future for the better. Highland coach James Ross got a chance to watch Messer
during the tournament and offered her a spot if she wanted it.

“I told him I had to think about it
and talk with my parents because I had already told myself that I wasn’t going
to play,” Messer said. “I went to go visit the next week and I just fell in
love with the campus and the people.”

Shortly after her commitment,
Messer began to connect with several other Highland players that would be a
part of the school’s first women’s soccer team. She is not wasting time as she
is already helping prepare for the historic season.

“I am hoping to be a leader on the
team,” Messer said. “I have already started doing some of those leadership type
roles in talking with the girls. I just want to try and have a positive
attitude throughout the season as a team.”

Messer’s life changed in such a
short time, and instead of preparing for life without soccer, she gets the
chance to play her favorite sport a little bit longer.

“At first I didn’t think I would
be playing college soccer,” Messer said. “I never had the mentality that I
would be going to a big university or something like that, but my coach gave me
this opportunity to pursue what I loved. He saw some different things that
coaches usually don’t see in me, so it is very exciting.”