Soccer Superstar: Freshman goalkeeper dives into reality television
Katie Meyer is taking the soccer world by storm.
Katie, a freshman goalkeeper for the Eagles club team and the Newbury Park Varsity Girls’ soccer team, was recently cast in a new Nickelodeon soccer reality show entitled “Soccer Superstar”. Katie describes the show as “almost like soccer survivor. There are eliminations and you get voted off the soccer island, not by your teammates, but by judges,” Katie explains. “They’re narrowing it down to one person at the end, and then that person is the soccer superstar.”
The filming process has been time consuming, lasting up to 12 hours for a total of about 10 days. These days consisted of training, games, interviews, a mandatory three hour study hall session, and what Katie describes as “a lot of waiting around.”
Katie admits that balancing this commitment with school work was a challenge. “We had study hall sessions to work on whatever school work we could, but it was hard for me because I was missing the class and the teaching that went into the homework,” Katie said. “A lot of times I didn’t know what to do.”
Although the overwhelming workload tested Katie’s dedication, Gina Meyer, Katie’s mother, felt that Katie handled it well, explaining how “even when there is a boatload of homework to come home to, (Katie) manages to plow through it.”
Additionally, while the show did put a temporary strain on Katie’s academics, the show provided what Gina describes as “a unique opportunity for her (to meet) some great players and coaches.”
Katie’s father Steven Meyer added that “it’s a positive program that promotes a great game with our youth.” According to Katie, the show gave her the chance to prove to herself and to the rest of the country that she can be a leader.
“I can be a leader, and people can see me as a leader, if I present myself as one. The biggest thing I’ll take away from this show is that people will see me as I want them to,” Katie said. “The image I put out will affect how people all over the country are going to see me.”
“Soccer Superstar” will air nationally on Nickelodeon this summer during the Women’s World Cup, starting on June 6.
