Michigan State University Athletics
Catching Up With Senior Rachel Meikle
2/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Feb. 27, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Senior Rachel Meikle finished 18th in her first tournament of the spring, the Central District Invitational on Tues., Feb. 20. It was her 10th career top-20 finish and the second of the season for the Fort Wayne, Ind., native, who is heading into the final four regular-season tournaments of her career, beginning with the Lady Gator in Gainesville, Fla., on March 10-11.
Earlier this week, Meikle sat down to talk about the upcoming tournaments, who her biggest golf influences are and what her plans are after graduation.
On her personal and team goals for the spring season...
Personally, my goals are to get a Big Ten Championship ring and I would like to get another top-five finish at a tournament. Each person on our team has practiced really hard this season. Individually, I got to take a trip down to Florida just to practice. During the season, we work all week long and I feel that even though we are indoors, we have a really good opportunity to practice hard.
On the Northwestern Invitational where she shot a school-record six-under-par as a junior...
I don't feel like I prepared differently compared to what I would normally do. I just felt great going out into that tournament. The golf course was a perfect set-up for me and I was confident and hitting the ball really well so it was just the combination of everything.
On what team she is looking forward to competing against...
Definitely Purdue. We have not really seen them this year and last year, having won the Big Ten Tournament, they are big competition for us. We would really like to compete against them.
On who her biggest golf influences are...
I started playing golf because my grandfather brought junior clubs over to my house. However, since I have been at school, Coach (Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll) has been the biggest influence on me with her teaching. She has taught me different shots and has been a big influence, just in understanding the game a lot better. Golf is more than just trying to hit it as far as you can.
On what she enjoys most about traveling with the team...
We have great times together. There are great stories and pictures that come out of the van rides. Just being with the team and the camaraderie we share is the best part.
On her hopes to open her own junior golf academy...
Between Michigan State camps, Nike camps in the summer and working at golf courses, I have gotten many chances to work with kids. I would really like to eventually build my own junior golf academy so I could instruct kids on my own full time. I could also get involved with something like the "First Tee," where I could work with kids all day long.
On what her plans are after graduation...
I actually just got engaged right before Valentines Day so my fiancé and I are actually planning the wedding for this summer in East Lansing. After that, I will just be trying to figure out what is next.
- Compiled by MSU Sports Information Student Assistant Jackie Noble
