The Suffolk County News sat down with decorated student athlete, Ava Meyn, who has been an integral player in lacrosse, basketball, and volleyball.
Most recently, Meyn distinguished her athletic career by being only one of three young women who have scored over 1,000 points in Bayport-Blue Point High School’s basketball program.
Suffolk County News: What is a challenge you face as an athlete that people might not realize you go through and how do you overcome it?
Ava Meyn: One challenge I face as an athlete is definitely having a way busier schedule than others. Since I play three sports and have to balance academics, my weeks are packed with many hours of practice, workouts, games and schoolwork. This can interfere with being able to have time for my friends. I overcome this by devoting any time I have outside of sports and school to my friends. Also, Sundays are normally my rest days, so I normally have a self-care routine, which involves my own recovery. After I take care of my own body, I hang out with my friends as much as possible to maintain a good connection with them. Though, I am very lucky to have many friends who play the same sports as me and can relate. So, I normally get to see them every day.
SCN: What are the top three moments you’ve experienced as a team player where you felt you and your team worked really well together? It can be on or off the field/court.
Meyn: Winning states with my team in 2023 was definitely a highlight of my life. It was history for our program, and I feel that it was an entire team effort. Missing any factor of our team would have made us unable to even reach states. Another moment would definitely be when we made it to counties for basketball. Our school’s basketball team was listed as the sixth seed and we made it all the way to counties, which was incredible. Once again, if any factor of our team was missing, there would be no way for us to make it there. Plus, everyone showing up to practice every day really played a part in our team going so far. The last moment would be when my Yellow Jackets team became ranked No. 1 in the country. This accomplishment of its own says enough. My team is filled with incredible players all on their way to D1 colleges and who have an insanely bright future ahead of them. We would not have achieved that ranking if we didn’t work as hard as we did over all these years.
SCN: How have your parents and your family shaped your performance as an athlete?
Meyn: My family has shaped my performance as an athlete by pushing me to be the greatest athlete I could possibly be. There are hard days where going to practice is extremely tiring. But, having my parents by my side pushing me to go to those hard practices was really beneficial because my mindset has changed from then to now, knowing that I get to go to practice, work hard, and improve rather than having to go to practice. My family supports me in everything I do, fully. I also love that my grandparents come to every game to cheer me on, no matter how far or the weather. There is nothing better than that.
SCN: How do you balance academics and a social life with your demanding schedule?
Meyn: Balancing my social life as well as my academics can be extremely difficult. I actually think it’s one of the hardest things to balance as an athlete. I am sure many other athletes can relate. I prioritize my academics as well as having friends and family who understand how hard my schedule can be for me to have time for them. I am very grateful for the friends and family I have who understand how busy I can be. One way I balance my friendships and family [is] by staying in touch as much as possible. It’s very difficult, but definitely effective. One way I balance academics is focusing in school because if I were to not, I would definitely not be in a good head space regarding my grades because I really do my best to prioritize my assignments and grades. It’s important to me to be successful in the classroom; I value my education as much as anything else.
SCN: What is your advice to younger girls just starting their athletic career?
Meyn: I train a lot of the younger up-and-coming laxers, so I think this is so important. My advice would definitely be to not compare yourself to others in an unhealthy way. I think a lot of athletes don’t understand that every individual athlete has their own niches. As long as you keep working hard and training, you will reach a very high potential. Just know that others could be working harder than you—I normally use that as motivation.
SCN: Have any teachers been a great influence on your performance as an athlete and team player?
Meyn: I’m very lucky to have an entire district that supports me and my accomplishments. Coach McKinnon, my volleyball and basketball coach, and Coach Gick, my physical education teacher, as well as my lacrosse coach are definitely my biggest supporters in the Bayport-Blue Point District. They never let me give up on myself and they helped me achieve an extremely high level of discipline. They also have definitely aided in shaping me to be the athlete I am today.
SCN: Who are your idols?
Meyn: I would definitely say two of my idols would be my parents. My dad played lacrosse, so he understands how it is to be an athlete. My mom was always a high achiever in school and work, so her work ethic is everything. Being we are so close, they have helped shape me to have the mindset, and mentality, of an athlete. They both motivate me to work to be successful in everything I do. Also, my parents are just great people. Surrounding yourself with great people who want to get things done in life, and who are motivated, really shape you to be the person you are.
SCN: What challenges do you find women athletes in particular face and how should they be addressed?
Meyn: I’m very impressed at how many women have achieved such greatness in our district as well as on Long Island itself. I do think that mental health in athletes is very overlooked. As athletes, we’re extremely hard on ourselves. Our biggest opponent is ourselves, and overcoming that is extremely difficult. The way your brain can trick you into thinking you’re not good enough or that you’re bad at the sport you have trained for, in what feels like forever, can be very detrimental for an athlete. Playing at a high level comes with emotions that an average person doesn’t always have to face. There are big highs and lows in sports that some athletes can never get through. Prioritizing your mental health and making it accessible to all athletes is definitely something we need to focus on more. Also, I think checking up on your teammates goes an extremely long way and as athletes, sometimes we just need someone to talk to who can relate.
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