Meier shares love of the game on campus and off

When Meredith Meier isn’t coaching the Cornell College women’s lacrosse team, she’s sharing her love of the game in the community.

Meier is a volunteer board member and coach for Kingfisher Lacrosse, the first organized lacrosse club in Eastern Iowa. It teaches players from kindergarten through high school how to play and holds “learn to play” clinics or one-time visits where coaches teach people the basics about the game.

“I love teaching the game of lacrosse because I love lacrosse. I think it’s a really fun sport that many Iowans are missing out on,” Meier said. “I think once people get into it, they really like it.”

When Cornell’s lacrosse season isn’t underway, Meier spends her Sundays working with younger students in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids areas and other days at clinics in eastern Iowa. And those who work with her say she’s an awesome representative of Cornell and the sport.

“She is always willing to do the work necessary to grow lacrosse in the greater Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area–she’s focused on her own program at Cornell, of course, but not to the exclusion of lending a hand when available, or even just a conversation to share perspective, open a door, or make a connection,” said Kingfisher’s Board President Jeff Kueter.

Native American Heritage Month

During one of this year’s “learn to play” clinics, Meier and another Kingfisher coach were invited by a University of Iowa student organization to Iowa City during Native American Heritage Month in November. 

The students there held a presentation about the background of the sport. Then, the coaches taught students how to play.

According to History.com, lacrosse is America’s oldest team sport and dates back to 1100 A.D. when it was played by tribes as a social event or to settle disputes. 

“I’d like to make it something we do every year,” Meier said. “It’s something that’s important to the game because they are the creators of the game.” 

Cornell’s Lacrosse Season

Meier has been building the Cornell lacrosse team since she took over the program in October of 2015.

“I’ve been around lacrosse almost longer than the girls on my team have been alive,” said Meier, who has played the sport since middle school.

This year, Cornell’s team was picked to finish fourth in the conference. Meir’s Cornell women’s lacrosse team recently crossed the threshold for the most season wins in program history. The Rams secured their eighth win of the year on April 13, 2023, to top the program record of seven wins.

“I always told myself after every single year, I don’t want to be a one-and-done team where we get really good and then we have a really bad year. I want to build it brick-by-brick where it might take longer but we are going to stay on top.”

Meier’s 2022 squad also broke numerous individual school records and landed a program-best three all-conference performers. 

With her work at Cornell and out in the community, there’s no doubt the love of lacrosse will continue to grow across Iowa.