Indiana University Athletics
Hometown Hoosiers: St. Louis
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 7, 2006
As part of an ongoing series, IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at the hometowns of Hoosier student-athletes throughout the year. The second in the series is the metropolitan area of St. Louis.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - St. Louis, Mo., played host to the first U.S. Olympic games in 1904, the beloved Rams captured the 1999 Super Bowl, and the Cardinals continue to celebrate a 2006 world title. But while sports fanatics are a huge part of what makes this River City so special, its rich history and unique offerings also explain why many Hoosier student-athletes are proud to be St. Louis natives.
For senior soccer stars Kevin Robson (St. Peters Mo./ Chaminade Prep) and Lauren Lamping (St. Louis, Mo./ St. Josephs Academy), senior football safety Will Meyers (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway) and freshman field hockey Meg O'Connell (St. Louis Mo./Lafayette Senior High), all agree that "St. Louis is a great place to live, and it just might be the greatest city in the world."
As one ventures through downtown St. Louis, one of the first visits they should make is to the beaming Arch. Considered `the Gateway to the Midwest,' O'Connell believes the Arch is a fun attraction for both residents and tourists.
"The Arch is what St. Louis is known for, and the best part about it is that you can actually ride up the Arch," she said. "If you lean over the edge of your car you can see the whole city. It's really scary when you look down."
Along with the Arch, the food and beverage avenue is an important aspect of St. Louis, and `The Hill', the home of former Yankee great Yogi Berra, is an area that boasts phenomenal Italian dishes. A treat that Robson particularly favors is toasted ravioli. The St. Louis Bread Co., which most now know as Panera Bread, also began in St. Louis.
"People from different parts of the country come and are amazed at how good it is," Robson said. He wonders if his friends visit him at home just for the food.
There are a variety of ways to spend time in the Gateway City. Home to the International Bowling Museum, the Plaza Frontenac shopping complex and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, each attraction, along with the atmosphere of beautiful Forest Park, captures the true hospitality of the Midwest.
"My favorite location is the Fox Theater," said O'Connell, a Lafayette Senior High graduate. "It's a great place to see concerts and plays and it has the most beautiful setting. My senior prom took place at the Fox."
Lamping and Robson enjoy different aspects offered by their hometown, with Robson listing Market Street as his favorite destination due to its popularity for non-stop action. Similar to Robson, Lamping enjoys spending her free time in the area of downtown Clayton, a city suburb.
"Throughout my life, I've moved five or six times, so I have seen all parts of the suburbs that St. Louis has to offer," Lamping said. "One of my favorite things to do is visit the Zoo (The St. Louis Zoological Park) because it's free."
Also home to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis area has become a staple for up and coming music sensations with many residents maintaining a soft spot for the musical tastes of ragtime, jazz, and the blues.
Beautiful and rich in setting, another important part of this town is the St. Louis way of life. Residents have come to know the customary question "Where did you go to high school?," and while this might seem odd to a visitor; it's just the way of life in this midwestern city.
O'Connell has lived all over St. Louis, and she believes the great neighborhoods and overall school system are appealing to young families.
On the soccer field Beverly Markwort (St. Louis/Mary Institute Country Day) and Joe Andrews (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit) join Lamping and Robson, while Meyers is joined by teammate Mike Reiter (Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway). Meg O'Connell followed her older sister Kate to Bloomington and are joined by fellow native and teammate junior Margie Stoll (Nerinx Hall).
In the pool, Todd Patrick (Marquette) represents the swimming and diving teams, and rounding out the St. Louis lineup are sophomore cross country and track and field standout Ashley Sommer (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette), and rowers Sarah Tinsley (Eureka, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) and Molly Sinks (Des Peres, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy).
