Travel Ball: Meyer family supports son by attending basketball games
Sophomore forward Luke Meyer has started every game since he set foot on campus. His parents have been on the trek with him the whole way.
Fans can spot Rick and Nikki Meyer on the northeast side of McGuirk Arena, directly across from the Chippewa bench.
Though, parents can now follow their student-athletes through live streams online, the Meyer family travels to watch Luke play. The only game his parents missed this season was Dec. 3 at Grand Canyon.
“Even though it’s only four years, talking with some of the parents of the upperclassmen, they say how fast it goes by," Rick said. "Before we know it, (it'll) already (be) halfway through Luke’s Central Michigan career. We just don’t want to miss anything.”
Attending all of Luke's games has been a tradition for the Meyer family since Luke was prepping at Addison High School. Rick did not miss a single high school game, and Nikki missed only one game in Luke's freshman year.
Nikki planned her schedule accordingly so she could attend every game that season, but a snow day postponed one game. She was in California on the day the game was rescheduled. She said she cried after.
“We support our son," Nikki said. "We know this is a limited time and they’re only so young for so long. We want to be there for him.”
Luke was a four-year starter at Addison and was a Mr. Basketball finalist in the 2013-14 season. He received offers from Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Belmont and Western Michigan, among other schools.
He also received an offer from Toledo, the alma mater of both Rick and Nikki and the team CMU beat 76-74 on Saturday.
Nikki played college basketball for the Rockets and is the all-time leading scorer at Dundee High School. Rick said basketball is how the two met. The couple's daughter, Cassie, is a senior at Mercy College, also located in the Toledo area.
Toledo is the closest Mid-American Conference school to Addison, with about 55 miles separating the cities. Luke ultimately chose CMU, a two-hour drive, 125-mile drive from his hometown.
“This was a good fit for Luke," Nikki said. "We knew he would come in and make an impact right away. He said it felt like home when he came here. We let him make his decision.”
Luke averages 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and leads the team with 30 blocks.
"I'm super thankful for them," Luke said.
Basketball runs deep in the Meyer family. Luke's grandfather, Norm Weyher, was one of the first 1,000-point scorers in Monroe County. Rick played intramural basketball and Luke's sister Cassie played four years of high school basketball.
“We definitely try to cheer him on," Cassie said. "He says he can always hear us. I think it helps him. I think it keeps him focused.”
Rick said the family spends a lot of money on travel, including $150-200 a night to stay in hotels. He said he enjoys home games the most.
“It’s overwhelming when there’s five (CMU) fans and 3,000 of the other," Rick said of away games.
Rick works at Classic Turning Inc. in Jackson and Nikki works as a nurse at the Jackson Health Department. The two have flexible schedules, making travel easier.
Despite missing the game in Phoenix, the Meyer family has traveled to the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida, William & Mary in Virginia and Brigham Young in Utah this season.
“We’re thankful gas is cheap right now," Nikki said.
Nineteen-year-old Luke said he appreciates his family continuing to support him.
"I hear my sister a lot and I hear my mom as well," Luke said.
Last season, Meyer led the Chippewas in rebounding in one game. In his sophomore campaign, he's led the team in rebounding six times.
“Last year, he had very little confidence in himself," Nikki said. "I think this year he plays so much harder. In his mind, he wants to be able to guard those big guys. I think he’s done a much better job this year than he ever did last year.”
Nikki said during the offseason, Luke would get up at 6 a.m. and shoot at the gym while she rebounded. He would also lift weights to add bulk.
Rick said his son will be training with Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning Taylor Larson this summer in attempts to bulk up for his junior season.
“He’s still developing," Rick said. "He knows what he needs to do. Now that he’s had so much experience on the floor he knows what he’s got to do as far as his body. He knows he’s got to get stronger, so that motivates him in the offseason to work.”
When Luke comes home, he tells his family to turn off basketball on the TV, as basketball is "24/7" in his house.
On the court, Luke said he can hear Cassie and Nikki, adding his family reminds him to get his hands up.
Luke committed to CMU before his junior season in high school. The Meyer family has been watching the team since this season's current seniors were freshmen. Head Coach Keno Davis said it is important to recruit in the state to families like the Meyers to have the opportunity to watch their children play.
“We recruited Luke at an early age, so we built a really good relationship with his family," Davis said. "I think they’re very invested in him having success, not just basketball success, but making sure he’s on track to have a great career outside of basketball."
The Meyer family returned to Toledo on Saturday to watch Luke pour in 12 points and six rebounds in the Chippewa victory. Rick said about 60 family members and friends were at the game. Nikki said three to four Addison residents follow Luke at CMU constantly.
Rick said the coaching staff said Luke can play professional ball someday.
“We just know he keeps working hard every day," Rick said. "We just promote hard work and see where it will take you.”
Rick's favorite moment watching Luke was when CMU defeated Northwestern in Illinois last season and Meyer scored a career-high 18 points.
Now after sitting nearly two full seasons in the McGuirk Arena stands, Nikki said CMU feels more like home than Toledo.
“It definitely feels like an extended family for us," Rick said.
The Meyer family will travel to Ball State on Tuesday and will attend the regular season finale when CMU hosts Western Michigan on Friday. The family will travel to Cleveland if CMU reaches the second round of the MAC Tournament.
“As long as we can still do it, we’re going to keep following him around," Rick said.
