2020 Senior Spotlight: Avery O’Meara

By Andy Brown
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Updated: April 17, 2020

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg Sports Zone will be running senior spotlights through April and May everyday (Monday through Friday) in an effort to honor seniors who had their seasons taken away due to the spread of COVID-19.

Avery O’Meara has had more than her fair share of special memories when it comes to the Louisburg girls soccer team.

O’Meara has started for the Wildcats since her freshman season and has been a part of three Class 4-1A final four appearances and two state runner-up finishes. It has been a ride full of amazing moments.

“Honestly, I don’t think I can pinpoint a single memory that was the best because they are all amazing,” O’Meara said. “The whole experience has just been amazing.”

The Louisburg senior is coming off a strong junior campaign herself as she was named to the Class 4-1A all-state second team as a midfielder. She was hoping to use the momentum of that second place state finish to possibly go even further this season.

“I was really looking forward to this season because this season was supposed to be special, and not just because we are seniors,” O’Meara said. “We all worked so hard in the off-season and during conditioning to get better – underclassmen included – and this was the year that I truly believe we could’ve been a powerhouse of a team. I believe with all my heart that we would’ve made it to the state final four again and that we may very well have won.”

O’Meara was one of 12 Wildcat seniors that won’t get that final opportunity to reach the state’s highest prize as the spread of COVID-19 shut spring sports down across the state, along with the closure of schools.

The news was a shock to O’Meara and the rest of her teammates. It prevented one final run at a state title, but more importantly, a chance to play with a team and coaching staff that have played vital roles in her life the last several years.

“The senior class in general is so special,” she said. “I feel like we are all family, we all get along and support each other. The soccer senior girls are on a whole other level though. The majority of us actually grew up playing on the same team. We didn’t always get along, but we always supported each other no matter what. We got to know each other better than anyone else, and we could say one word or give one look and know the exact meaning behind it. Sure, some of us didn’t grow up playing soccer, but we were all sisters as soon as we hit the field. We were truly a family.

“As for the coaches, they are the best coaches a girl could ask for. They have really made me into the player and person I am today. They have some kind of superhero power that allows them to see what you can be and give you the confidence and direction needed to get you there.”

Head coach Kyle Conley appreciated what O’Meara gave to the team, especially with her presence as a holding midfielder. She was reliable player in critical moments for the Wildcats.

“Avery was one of the hardest working kids on the field each and every time we played,” Conley said. “She worked her butt off and never backed down or said she was tired. She never complained and always gave everything she had. Avery would have been a four-year starter for us and she played extremely hard each and every game.”

**Louisburg senior Avery O’Meara was slated to be a four-year starter for the Wildcats in 2020.**

With the cancellation, O’Meara will now put a sport behind her that she has competed in since she was little and will focus on her future. However, it was soccer that has helped her get to where she is today.

“I have been playing soccer since I was old enough to play on the Louisburg rec team,” O’Meara said. “My step dad played soccer most of his life and got my older sister to play, so I decided to follow suit. Soccer has been a huge part of my life. It has been my outlet my whole life. Practice was always the one place where I could just be me without feeling judged.”

Other than soccer, Louisburg Sports Zone also had a chance to catch up with Avery on how she has been coping with an early end to her senior year and some of her other interests. Here are her responses from the rest of our Q&A.

LSZ: What have you been missing the most during this time away from everyone?

AO: The laughter. Both during school and soccer there was always someone who would make everyone laugh or, at least, lighten the mood. It made everything seem fun, and work felt a little less like work.

LSZ: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete or in school, and why?

AO: This would definitely be the first time I was a varsity starter my freshman year. It was the second game of the season and I had finished the junior varsity game to go right in to warmups. During pre-game huddle with Conley he apparently told me to start, but I was not paying one lick of attention. It wasn’t until the national anthem that anyone realized I was not on the field with the rest of the starters so I had to run out to the middle of the field with everyone watching. According to the entire team during pre-game huddle, Conley had told me I was starting multiple times and every time I nodded my head to say that I had heard him but I don’t remember any of it.

LSZ: What is your favorite activity/hobby outside of sports and why?

AO: I really enjoy hiking. It gives me an escape from reality, fresh air, and likely a good view.

LSZ: What are your plans for after graduation?

AO: I will be attending Colorado State University with the intent to earn a Bachelors in Equine Science.