Sports Spotlight: Miramonte's Megan Reid

On Jan. 11, a guard on the Miramonte High girls basketball team scored seven points and added five steals for the Matadors in their victory over Las Lomas. The following night, she was on the soccer field for Miramonte, and provided an assist and stellar play at forward .

Two days later, she was back on the hardwood – in her first match against Lamorinda-rival Campolindo – and chipped in eight points and three steals in the Matadors' .  Moments after the basketball game, she raced out to the soccer field, laced up her cleats for the second half of the Miramonte’s  4-3 loss to Acalanes, and knocked in a goal in the 62nd minute.

Just another week in the life of Miramonte freshman Megan Reid.

“She is the most impressive freshman I have ever coached,” Miramonte basketball coach Kelly Sopak said.  “She has the mental toughness of a senior.”

Reid, who also played on the Miramonte varsity water polo team in the fall, is not only managing the unique situation of playing two varsity sports at the same time, she's becoming a standout on both fields.

She has started on the hoops team and helped it race to a 14-3 overall record and is the leading goal scorer on the soccer team.

“On the surface, I would say it is the most impressive feat I have seen in all my years of coaching,” Sopak said. “I have known Megan and her family since she was in the second grade and coached her for the last three years in club basketball, and quite honestly, this is so normal for her I have not even had time to reflect on it. Simply —that is Megan.”

Reid has been active in both sports since she was 5 years old. She started in the CYO and OYA ranks and has continued through club teams — in which she still competes — along with her busy high-school schedule.

While athletes tend to focus on one or two sports in the course of the high school calendar year – three-sport players are becoming more uncommon – Reid has chosen to continue with the two winter sports and is considering track or swimming in the spring.

Although she uses her hands in one sport and feet in the other, Reid feels the different dynamics of each give her an advantage.

“I think that playing soccer has helped me on the basketball court because it allows me to see the entire court, and see who is open,” Reid said. “Basketball has helped me (in soccer) in the way that I am able to make my way throughout players smoothly and my ability to change my speed whenever needed. They both keep me in good shape for one another.”

Sopak agreed, and said Reid will continue to adjust as she becomes more comfortable.

 “She plays tough like a soccer player,” Sopak said. “But, she is now learning that basketball and soccer have different speeds, and soccer you play in your area of the field, but in basketball you have to play the full 84 feet.  With our tempo, that can be challenging, even for Megan.”

With the time it takes to compete at the varsity level, the big question is how can an athlete in her first year in high school pull it all off? The answer: Reid is honing her time-management skills.

“During this season I have about four hours of sports a day, and to get my homework done I do what I can in the classrooms,” Reid said.  “If I have more, I'll go into the library during lunch, and whatever I have left I will finish in about an hour at home.”

Although Sopak is happy that Reid is able to balance her time between both sports, he said he realizes this is a unique situation.

“This would be very difficult for any athlete to attempt and I would discourage it,” Sopak said. “Megan is unique, not only in her skill set but in her mental approach to the game and her work ethic in both sports. She is natural leader and kids respond to her.”

Since Reid has played in a variety of sports most of her life, her thoughts down the road might turn to college athletics. But for now, she is enjoying her life as a student-athlete, and taking it one day, and practice, and game at a time.

“At this point, I want to just be able to keep my grades up and enjoy quality time with my friends on the side,” Reid said.  “I am only in my first year of high school, so I have time to decide what I would like to do. I would love to play any of my sports in college because they bring me so much joy and also great friends.”