Loyola’s Phillips embraces new ‘reel’-ality
By Bill McLean
For members of the Ramblers soccer team, breaking down film during the COVID-19 pandemic has been so … 2019.
They’ve analyzed a United States match from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They’ve reviewed and parsed footage from their 2019 season.
“We’re finding ways to stay connected,” said senior outside midfielder Meredith Phillips, one of the Ramblers’ tri-connectors (formerly known as tri-captains, back in that glorious precoronavirus era).
Phillips and her mates would give anything to be able to hit the pitch and perform leading and supporting roles for filmmakers in 2020. But they must stay at home — and stay in shape there — as they ride out the prevailing uncertainty of the pandemic.
The Illinois High School Association has set May 1 as the target date to resume practices/games for all sports but only if state governmental, educational and health bodies approve such action.
“Our coach [Shannon Hartinger] sends us a workout each day, and we focus on aspects of soccer in Zoom meetings,” said Phillips who will study and play at Yale. Her father Jim is the director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation at Northwestern University.
“We’re also now doing a mile challenge, where we formed teams [each consisting of four to five Ramblers]," she said. "Each player runs a mile, and the team with the best average mile-time wins.
“If we get the green light to play this season,” the former center-midfielder added, “we want to be sure we’ll be ready for the first game of a shortened season.”
Phillips started striking a soccer ball, at home, at the age of 2, maybe 3. She didn’t have a choice, really. Her older sister, Madeline, and older brother, Luke, played the sport regularly and ended up competing at Loyola. Both attend the University of Notre Dame, where Luke, a sophomore, is a member of the men’s track and field team.
Now both are anchored at home in Wilmette, because of the pandemic.
“It’s kind of weird, having my older siblings at home this spring,” said Meredith, who has two younger brothers, John (a Loyola sophomore) and James, who just turned 11. “But it’s also a blessing. I’m cherishing the time I’m having with my entire family. It has taken the stress away.”
Phillips, a cross country runner and soccer and basketball player in middle school, thought about playing basketball as a freshman at Loyola. Soccer’s pull, though, was too magnetic. It wouldn’t let go of Phillips in the winter months.
“Soccer,” Phillips said, “brings athleticism and speed into the game. It’s the perfect mix of both.”
Loyola’s other two soccer tri-connectors in 2020 are senior outside back Grace Cutler and sophomore midfielder Grace Ehlert, a Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List selectee.
Cutler’s take on third-year varsity booter Phillips, the leader?
“She’s calm but enthusiastic, if that makes sense,” said the Wesleyan University (Conn.) recruit, an Evanston native. “Meredith picks the right moments to get her teammates fired up. She motivates us and brings energy to the team with both her leadership and her abilities. She’s a very good connector on and off the field.”
On the field, Phillips’ speed tangles constantly with her quickness for the top spot on the lengthy list of her Undeniable Strengths.
“Her feet,” Cutler said, “help her get out of troublesome situations. So fast, so quick, so good at making runs off a cross or getting to a ball to make a cross. Plus she works hard, offensively and defensively. Team player — that’s Meredith.”
Last year’s young team (at least four Ramblers freshmen played serious, impactful varsity minutes) went 10-7-3 and reached a Class 3A regional final.
“We’re still young, with a lot of speed,” said Phillips, a five-year FC United club player. “We’re all hoping to play this spring, because we know our young players would mix well with our older leaders.
“I’m excited about possibly seeing Grace [Ehlers], a dangerous player, continue to do a good job distributing the ball.”
In the meantime, Phillips continues to sate her appetite for competition under a certain roof — Team Phillips’ roof. Indoor games abound. Laughter shakes the hanging picture frames. Dad Jim is the most competitive of the septet, Meredith claimed, and the bunch’s glue is the matriarch, Laura.
“We’ve played board games like Clue and Sorry and all kinds of card games,” said Meredith, who is thinking of majoring in either business or math at Yale. “I do enjoy those hours together. I plan to read more, mostly fiction and memoirs, since we started our spring break [April 9]. But I won’t stop lifting weights and doing abs workouts in our basement.
“When I run I usually head to Gillson Park, where I get to see life outside my home.”
By Bill McLean
For members of the Ramblers soccer team, breaking down film during the COVID-19 pandemic has been so … 2019.
They’ve analyzed a United States match from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They’ve reviewed and parsed footage from their 2019 season.
“We’re finding ways to stay connected,” said senior outside midfielder Meredith Phillips, one of the Ramblers’ tri-connectors (formerly known as tri-captains, back in that glorious precoronavirus era).
Phillips and her mates would give anything to be able to hit the pitch and perform leading and supporting roles for filmmakers in 2020. But they must stay at home — and stay in shape there — as they ride out the prevailing uncertainty of the pandemic.
The Illinois High School Association has set May 1 as the target date to resume practices/games for all sports but only if state governmental, educational and health bodies approve such action.
“Our coach [Shannon Hartinger] sends us a workout each day, and we focus on aspects of soccer in Zoom meetings,” said Phillips who will study and play at Yale. Her father Jim is the director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation at Northwestern University.
“We’re also now doing a mile challenge, where we formed teams [each consisting of four to five Ramblers]," she said. "Each player runs a mile, and the team with the best average mile-time wins.
“If we get the green light to play this season,” the former center-midfielder added, “we want to be sure we’ll be ready for the first game of a shortened season.”
Phillips started striking a soccer ball, at home, at the age of 2, maybe 3. She didn’t have a choice, really. Her older sister, Madeline, and older brother, Luke, played the sport regularly and ended up competing at Loyola. Both attend the University of Notre Dame, where Luke, a sophomore, is a member of the men’s track and field team.
Now both are anchored at home in Wilmette, because of the pandemic.
“It’s kind of weird, having my older siblings at home this spring,” said Meredith, who has two younger brothers, John (a Loyola sophomore) and James, who just turned 11. “But it’s also a blessing. I’m cherishing the time I’m having with my entire family. It has taken the stress away.”
Phillips, a cross country runner and soccer and basketball player in middle school, thought about playing basketball as a freshman at Loyola. Soccer’s pull, though, was too magnetic. It wouldn’t let go of Phillips in the winter months.
“Soccer,” Phillips said, “brings athleticism and speed into the game. It’s the perfect mix of both.”
Loyola’s other two soccer tri-connectors in 2020 are senior outside back Grace Cutler and sophomore midfielder Grace Ehlert, a Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List selectee.
Cutler’s take on third-year varsity booter Phillips, the leader?
“She’s calm but enthusiastic, if that makes sense,” said the Wesleyan University (Conn.) recruit, an Evanston native. “Meredith picks the right moments to get her teammates fired up. She motivates us and brings energy to the team with both her leadership and her abilities. She’s a very good connector on and off the field.”
On the field, Phillips’ speed tangles constantly with her quickness for the top spot on the lengthy list of her Undeniable Strengths.
“Her feet,” Cutler said, “help her get out of troublesome situations. So fast, so quick, so good at making runs off a cross or getting to a ball to make a cross. Plus she works hard, offensively and defensively. Team player — that’s Meredith.”
Last year’s young team (at least four Ramblers freshmen played serious, impactful varsity minutes) went 10-7-3 and reached a Class 3A regional final.
“We’re still young, with a lot of speed,” said Phillips, a five-year FC United club player. “We’re all hoping to play this spring, because we know our young players would mix well with our older leaders.
“I’m excited about possibly seeing Grace [Ehlers], a dangerous player, continue to do a good job distributing the ball.”
In the meantime, Phillips continues to sate her appetite for competition under a certain roof — Team Phillips’ roof. Indoor games abound. Laughter shakes the hanging picture frames. Dad Jim is the most competitive of the septet, Meredith claimed, and the bunch’s glue is the matriarch, Laura.
“We’ve played board games like Clue and Sorry and all kinds of card games,” said Meredith, who is thinking of majoring in either business or math at Yale. “I do enjoy those hours together. I plan to read more, mostly fiction and memoirs, since we started our spring break [April 9]. But I won’t stop lifting weights and doing abs workouts in our basement.
“When I run I usually head to Gillson Park, where I get to see life outside my home.”