University of Minnesota Athletics
Meyer Relishes Role of Captain
10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Before he started high school, Grady Meyer filled out a goal sheet along with the rest of his class. When he got it back as a senior, the goal he wrote was set to happen: to play Division I golf. Not only has Meyer, who started golfing with plastic clubs as a toddler, fulfilled that goal, but he has become a team captain at the University of Minnesota.
In 2015-16, Meyer was one of three Golden Gopher captains. He and classmate Jose Mendez learned from senior Jon DuToit and grew into their own leadership styles. When Meyer sat down in the coaches' office after the season, he asked for a second term. This time, the Fargo, N.D., native is flying solo.
"The reason to have one captain this year with Grady was I knew exactly what we were getting from last year," head coach John Carlson said. "He did a great job as a captain. I really wanted that to just filter over to this year."
Meyer is happy to have four fellow seniors who can help with team leadership, especially Matt Rachey and Mendez, who have been with him since their freshman year. But he does not mind being the sole official captain.
"It's nice to be the guy everyone looks to for things that need to be decided," Meyer said.
Teammates and coaches alike count on Meyer to help maximize the team's potential.
"He communicates with us really well," Carlson said. "When there are some needs that aren't being met as a team or even with the way we've done some of our practices, some of our strength and conditioning, we like to have a voice amongst the guys that can come to us and we can talk through how to make their experience better and also make them better as players. That's what Grady's really brought as a captain."
Meyer's communication skills include an outgoing, welcoming personality. Creating close bonds among teammates has been one of his top priorities as a captain, and he has backed up his words with action. Meyer makes a point to organize off-course team activities. He helped newcomers mix in with the team at the Pine to Palm Championships over the summer. Leaf said having new transfer Alex Uloth room with Meyer was a "perfect fit."
"He's got a great relationship with all of us," senior William Leaf said. "His personality fits perfectly with everyone on the team. He's someone you can always go to and talk to. Even with everyone's golf game. It seems like he knows everyone's game. He knows what they do well. So he's always someone that you can go to and ask, 'What am I doing well?' or, 'What am I doing wrong?' He's always got answers for us."
Meyer sometimes stands in for the coaches if he is not in the team's travel lineup. He helps run practice for the Gophers who stayed home, and fields teammates' questions.
"He is a good leader," Carlson said. "He's easy for the guys to talk to. He helps the freshmen out. I think for us as a coaching staff, he's really coachable. That's a trait of all really good captains, that they can take the guidance of the coaching staff and bring it to the guys even when we're not around."
After the fall season ends, Meyer plans to organize some pickup basketball games like the team has done in past winters. The avid Timberwolves fan pours his typical energy out on the court.
"He's the hustler," Leaf said. "Grady hustles. He's an important piece to the basketball squad in the offseason."
Every basketball team seems to have a "hustler" or "glue guy." Someone who may or may not always stand out on the stat sheet, but who will do whatever it takes to help the team win.
In a way, Meyer fills this role for the Gopher golf team. Even if he is not in the lineup, he contributes by holding himself and his teammates accountable at practice and giving advice back home. He can get down to business in important team discussions, or lighten the mood with chatter.
This is not to say Meyer has not contributed on the course for the Gophers. Last year, he turned in three top-20 finishes in team events. He has met his goal of playing Division I golf, and still has a goal of winning medalist honors at a collegiate tournament. But whether or not he gets that victory, his true legacy at Minnesota will be his leadership and the relationships he formed.
"I've met so many good people, made a ton of friends," Meyer said. "The trips we've been on. The relationships you make are something you can rely on the rest of your life. Those are things you can't take for granted."
