Oct. 4, 2010

BERKELEY - Each week, CalBears.com will feature a freshman women's soccer player, and this week's participant is defender Megan Indermill. Not only a gifted athlete but an intellectual as well, Indermill is attending Cal as a bioengineering major and Regents and Chancellor's scholar after graduating high school with a 4.84 GPA and as valedictorian. She earned eight varsity letters during her high school career in soccer and track, holding the league title for the 800m and 4X400m races in track. On the soccer side, Indermill was a four-year starter and two-time captain for the Hart HS soccer team, taking it to the CIF semifinals in 2008 and quarterfinals in 2008. That prep squad elected Indermill the best midfielder in 2007, the best defender in 2008 and the most valuable player in 2010. Additionally, she was named to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 All-Foothill League teams as well as the 2009-10 CIF female student-athlete of the year. Off the high school pitch, her club team was a two-time national cup semifinalist, 2008 coast soccer league cup champions and 2007 Surf Cup semifinalist. CalBears.com caught up with Indermill, who goes by Indy with her Cal teammates, to discuss all things Megan.

CalBears.com: What made you chose Cal?
Megan Indermill: I chose Cal because of the school's high academic standards as well as the amazing reputation it has in every other aspect of college life, including athletics. All around, Cal really is the best school in the country!

CalBears.com: What are your hobbies outside of soccer?
MI: I really enjoy spending time outdoors with my family, like camping, hiking and doing whatever other random activity we can find. Also, I am an avid reader, and I love to spend time with my friends.

CalBears.com: Do you have any unique stories about yourself that sets you apart from your teammates?
MI: When I was younger, I did "River Dance" style Irish dancing for a few years. Besides that however, I've never really been artistic, so I've just stuck with sports!

CalBears.com: What's your favorite part about Berkeley and/or the Cal campus?
MI: I love all the character the city of Berkeley has, as there are so many varying lifestyles. All the appreciation and acceptance of these differences are transferred to the campus itself, which really makes it a wonderful learning environment.

CalBears.com: What is the best thing about being a part of Cal women's soccer?
MI: The best thing about Cal women's soccer is definitely the huge culture and fan base supporting it. This year's team is part of a long line of tradition and being a part of that is like nothing else I've ever experienced before.

CalBears.com: Did you grow up watching Cal athletics? What has it been like to represent them?
MI: Growing up in SoCal, I didn't always follow Cal athletics. I was always aware of its amazing programs though, and now being apart of such a system is mind-blowing. We're now a part of an elite group of student-athletes that are some of the best in the country.

CalBears.com: What's your major?
MI: I'm a bioengineering major with a pre-med emphasis.

CalBears.com: What class are you most looking forward to this fall?
MI: I'm really looking forward to all of my classes, but my bio-engineering class in particular. The sciences have always been my passion and hopefully I can also take advantage of all the undergraduate research opportunities here.

CalBears.com: Which three people would you invite to dinner?
MI: I would invite Nelson Mandela, Will Ferrell and John Donne.

CalBears.com: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
MI: The best piece of advice I've received was from my long-time club coach, Hugh Donald. He always encouraged me to, "love yourself, respect yourself and feel good about yourself," and with that anything, is possible.

CalBears.com: Who would you want to be stranded on a deserted island with?
MI: Either Bear Grylls from "Man vs. Wild," Lee Stroud from "Survivorman" or my dad because all of them would know exactly what to do in that kind of situation.

CalBears.com: Who is your biggest hero?
MI: As cliché as it may sound, my biggest heroes are my parents. They have done such an amazing job at raising three daughters as well as showing us how to be the best people we can be. I aspire to do what they do on a daily basis.

CalBears.com: When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
MI: When I was younger, I loved marine biology and wanted to work as a marine biologist. To this day, I still have a huge collection of shells and sea creatures including shark jaws in my room.