Loyola Athletics Pursuit of Excellence Spotlight: Connor Meigs

NEW ORLEANS – This month's edition of the Pursuit of Excellence Spotlight goes to senior Connor Meigs, whose leadership just recently helped the Wolf Pack men's cross country finish second at the SSAC Championship earlier this month. The Wolf Pack Athletics Department aims to celebrate its student-athletes who embody our Jesuit values with these monthly spotlights. 

Meigs wrapped up his senior cross country season with a seventh-place All-Conference performance at the SSAC Championship, leading the Wolf Pack with an eight-kilometer time of 26:31.96. 

"Now in his senior year, Connor has developed into one of our best runners and our top team leader," Geoff Masanet, Loyola cross country and track and field head coach, said. "His improvement curve has been amongst the most extreme I've seen in my coaching career. However, he has also always shown himself to care about his teammates more than himself and motivates others as much with his words as he does by leading by example.  Connor is a straight-laced guy who is dependable and trustworthy and has a terrific balance with his studies and outside musical interests - he is not defined by athletics by any measure."

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native was immediately interested in Loyola New Orleans because of the music industry program, then once he found out he had the ability to join the cross country/track and field programs, he was 100 percent sold on his decision. He graduates this December and plans to chase a music career, playing as many gigs as possible while recording and releasing original music. 

"I think I've grown so much simply because of my involvement in our team and collegiate athletics, and I definitely would not be the same person if I weren't a part of it," Meigs said of what being a Loyola student-athlete means to him. "Especially in cross country, the way that the team bonds is incredibly unique and special because, at a certain point, nobody really likes running, but having a team suffering right alongside you and working incredibly hard to get better every single morning is motivation like no other. This sport and this team mean so much to me because it has literally shaped who I am in all aspects of my life."

His nominators praised his leadership and sportsmanship skills while propping up his teammates to be the best they could be.  

"I've found that those Jesuit values are kind of baked into this sport already," Meigs said. "At least in my mind, I'm already pursuing excellence, trying to do my absolute best in every single race and workout, inherently. In a similar way, being on a team, especially a team that is dedicated and loves its sport, automatically fosters an environment that thrives on dependence. There is rarely a morning when I'm thrilled to be awake at 6 AM, running sometimes upwards of 15 miles, but again, knowing that my team is probably just as tired and just as excited to be there, but they show up anyway and depend on me to be there with them, makes any and everything we have to do worth it. I do like to run for myself, but running with and for the other guys makes this sport really mean something."

On top of his academic and athletic obligations, Meigs also serves as a Building Manager for the University Sports Complex, where he displays his leadership skills there as well. 

"Connor is an amazing student worker who holds himself and those around him accountable," Bryiana Richardson, Assistant Athletic Director for the University Sports Complex, said. "His care for people is evident in his patience with helping our patrons with tasks. I always look forward to the joy he brings to the facility, whether sweeping up or adding a funny, sometimes enlightening note to the facility's end-of-the-day report. Connor has been an exemplary leader on and off the course."

These spotlights honor a student-athlete who not only excels in their sport but also embraces the greater purpose of using their talents to serve and inspire others. 

Please submit your nominees with specific examples of how your nominee exemplifies these characteristics - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLSU9L3RIq7rytJzmj9_XQZa8knsut8u96cb_jZ_vpMgppFw/viewform?usp=header

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