Danville grad Morgan Young plans to be on hand for Olympic women's soccer final

If everything goes as planned, former Danville High School soccer player Morgan Young will be on hand to watch the Olympic women’s soccer final Aug. 9 in London.
She’s been working at the Edelweiss Resort in Garmisch, Germany, the last year. It’s a spot for U.S. Army troops stationed in places like Iraq and Afghanistan to come for a break.
“They live in restored Nazi Army barracks, like a big residence hall in college,” said ¿Young’s mother, Ann. “She’s literally been all over Europe. Just got back from the third trip to Italy, before that, she was in Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia.  I think Spain is the only place she’s missed. She’s going to London on Monday and will be there five days before going to Poland and then coming home.
“I think she’s more excited about London and the Olympics than anything else.  We attended in 1996 (in Atlanta) and she still remembers that.”
Morgan Young, a Centre College graduate, says she thought the idea of working in Germany “was crazy” when her mother first told her about an interview possibility at Centre for the position.
“I went to the interview and did not think too much about it after. I honestly did not think I would be offered the job, and when I was, I had to ask for a few extra days just to consider the offer,” she said.
Not only has she been all across Europe in her spare time, but she’s also enjoyed her job so much that she plans to pursue a “new job somewhere in the hospitality and events industry” after she returns home.
But first she can’t wait to see London and be part of the gold-medal soccer match.
“I have wanted to go to London since I knew I was moving to Germany last year. I went to the Olympics in Atlanta back in '96 and thought the Olympics would be the perfect time (to see London).  I was hoping to see an Olympic event and then as much of the city as possible all in one trip,” Young said. 
“I have grown to love traveling so much, and have really learned to take advantage of my surroundings on each trip I take. I will be in London about 4 1/2 days, and plan to do a great deal of sightseeing. Hopefully Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Abbey Road, maybe even some members of the Royal family if i'm lucky — I have always loved the Royal family.”
She knows how fortunate she is to have secured a ticket to the soccer final.
“My boyfriend has a friend who lives in the UK (United Kingdom), and she was able to purchase the tickets for us,” Young said. “It was perfect because if we had tried to purchase the tickets any other way, they would have cost us much more. Lets just say, if we would have bought them from the official USA ticket office, they would have cost us about three times as much as we paid.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to watch the soccer finals. Soccer has always been a big part of my life, and I enjoy watching the sport almost as much as I loved playing. I am just hoping to be lucky enough to be able to watch the U.S. women in the final, and watch them win!”
Young says she realizes how lucky she’s been to experience what she has in the last year and now have an opportunity see an Olympic final.
“My European experience has been nothing short of amazing. I have been so lucky to be able to travel to so many different places and do all of the things that I have in the past year,” she said. “I never would have thought I would be traveling and working in Europe at the age of 24.  It has been an honor to be able to serve our military personnel and their families overseas and have so many great opportunities while doing so.    
“But the closer I get to coming home, the more homesick I seem to get. Although I have had a great year, I definitely do miss home. I am actually pretty excited to be coming back to Danville. It is one of the most beautiful small towns in America, after all.”