Fenwick junior receives national honor

Meghan Blank garners a spot on All-America squad.

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11:47 PM Wednesday, December 14, 2011

By Rick Cassano

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — Meghan Blank got the news by text.

The Fenwick High School junior was in Atlanta for a soccer tournament Dec. 3 when the message from Falcons coach Tom McEwan arrived: You’re an All-American.

“It was really shocking, honestly,” Blank said of learning that she had earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s 81-member All-America squad.

“The more time that passes, the more exciting it gets,” she continued. “It’s great to think I kind of made history at Fenwick. I want to thank my coach and all my teammates for helping me get here. I wouldn’t have gotten this award without them.”

The 5-foot-6 forward paced the Girls Greater Cincinnati League with 53 points this season, notching 22 goals and nine assists. The only GGCL player to score more goals was St. Ursula’s Marisa Wolf, who had 24.

Blank was named Division III Player of the Year by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and joined teammate Sydney Neal in the Falcons’ All-America circle. Neal was picked for the NSCAA honor last year.

“Not bad for a small school in the middle of Hunter, Ohio,” McEwan said. “Meghan had a great year stats-wise, but more than anything else, she just did a real good job of pacing herself throughout the year. She had a good combination of goals and assists, and her work ethic was incredible. She’s got a real strong drive to be successful.”

Blank, who plays for the Cincinnati United Premier club program, helped Fenwick post a 13-4-5 record in 2011. The Falcons made it to the state semifinals, losing to eventual champion Summit Country Day in overtime.

“I miss it still, every day,” Blank said of playing school soccer. “It was really a heartbreak that we lost because I thought we had the team to win state. But it was still my favorite season at Fenwick.”

Individually, she didn’t quite reach her goal of scoring 25 times. Blank will have another shot at that goal next fall, though she’ll miss the 12 departing seniors.

“I don’t want to leave Fenwick without a state championship,” said Blank, who lives in Springboro. “I feel like I’ve gotten all the awards I can get. Now I just want a state championship.”

Blank is planning to attend the NSCAA All-America Luncheon in Kansas City on Jan. 14.

Fenwick High School junior forward Meghan Blank had 22 goals and nine assists this past soccer season.

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