Megan Reed Talks USA Girls Rugby, Musical Talents & Career Aspirations
Writer / Julie Young
Photography Provided
No matter if she is playing guitar or bass in one of her school’s music ensembles, maintaining her straight-A average or tearing up the field as a member of the USA Girls All-American Rugby team, Megan Reed is clearly having the time of her life.
“With all of the activities I am involved in, there is a lot of running around to do and the schedule can get a little crazy, but I love everything I do, so I don’t mind,” she says.
With an infectious smile and a maturity level that belies her age, the Westfield High School senior says she has been playing piano since she was five-years-old. Although she favors lo-fi Indie rock, her tastes range from classical composers to heavy metal hitmakers, and she has been involved in Westfield’s annual American Pie concert since she was a freshman at the school.
“I also play bass in the Jazz Band and guitar in the Pit Orchestra,” she adds. “I’m sort of the resident musician around school.”
Beyond campus, the daughter of Barbara and John Reed has participated in Battle of the Bands competitions and books local gigs with her sister Erin, but what she is primarily known for is her skills on the rugby field. Megan has played for the Shamrocks throughout high school, was named to the All-American Girls team and plays for the Indy Speed – a regional team that competes with other Rugby clubs throughout the Midwest.
“I was recently picked along with 24 others to play in Ireland this summer and I am really excited about that,” she says. “This will be the farthest I have ever traveled and I know it will be a neat experience. There are a couple of other kids from Indiana going so it’s going to be a great opportunity for us to play and see the sights.”
Reed may not seem like the most likely rugby player, but her interest in the sport began when she played “tackle basketball” for several years. Her coach told her that she might be better suited for a sport that allowed for more physical contact, and while it may not be the coolest sport compared to football, she says it is an exotic sport that earns her a lot of respect.
“My mom often joked that she was glad she had two girls so that she wouldn’t have to endure any football injuries, but then I started playing rugby,” Megan laughs. “The good news is that there aren’t as many concussions in my sport because we tackle lower and we don’t use our heads. In fact, some NFL teams have begun to use more rugby techniques in their training because it’s a lot safer.”
Megan hopes to attend the University of Cincinnati next year where she plans to major in either traditional architecture or in landscape architecture. Next to music and rugby, drawing is her other passion and something she plans to make the most of.
“Although Ball State has a great architecture program, a lot of people kept mentioning the University of Cincinnati to me so I thought I should look into it,” she says. “I won’t know if I got in until January, but it looks like it will be a good fit. I’m excited to attend college in such a diverse city that will allow me to explore all of my interests.”
