Recently
engaged to Jeff Heroux of Chelmsford, Wilmington resident Melissa Merrill
has too much on her plate and too little time to join the New England
Storm of the Women's Professional Football League this summer.
In addition to her nuptial plans and her job as a residential counselor
at the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps’ Fay A. Rotenberg School
in North Chelmsford, Merrill recently took a second job at a veterinarian’s
office.
But that doesn’t mean Merrill doesn’t value the season she enjoyed with
the Storm last summer.
“It was awesome,” said the 25-year-old Merrill. “It was one of the best
times of my life. The whole rush of the game and the excitement and the
crowd watching you.”
The 5-foot-6 Merrill played fullback and middle linebacker for the 4-6
Storm in 2003. Her best experience on the field occurred on offense.
“When I first started, I didn't know what position I was going to play,”
Merrill said. “All my guy friends said I should go for quarterback or
I should be on the line. Once I started playing, I loved both (fullback
and linebacker). My first touchdown I scored was in New York and it was
just amazing. I never thought I’d score a touchdown. It was a rush from
like 7 yards and it was just cool because I was going through people and
I could feel when I was just one step away and then I got it.”
A newcomer to the gridiron, Merrill impressed her team enough to earn
the title of captain.
“That was awesome,” said Merrill. “That was great. I never expected that.”
Merrill excelled in basketball, volleyball, softball and track while she
was at Shawsheen Tech in Billerica.
“Basketball was always my favorite, but I was better at volleyball,” admitted
Merrill.
She then started her collegiate career at UMass Amherst before transferring
to UMass Lowell.
At Lowell, Merrill enjoyed playing pickup basketball and some rugby (she
met her fiancée on the rugby field). Merrill earned an undergraduate degree
in psychology and her master’s in criminal justice. In her last year as
an undergrad, Merrill started working at the Rotenberg School and she's
now been there two years and three months.
The Rotenberg School is one of nine RFK Children’s Action Corps residential
programs in the state. The only long-term secure treatment program in
Massachusetts for girls working in conjunction with the Department of
Youth Services, the Rotenberg School cares for 16 girls at a time. Some
of the girls in residence have been charged with crimes ranging from theft
to violence against others and even more serious crimes. Many of the youth
are challenged by a variety of emotional, psychological, biological, environmental
and social issue, which in many cases have led to their delinquent behavior.
“It’s definitely tough,” Merrill said. “Especially right now, there’s
a bunch of kids that don’t want to get it. It’s actually really rewarding
when the kids get in the program and get the help they need and go out
and take college courses and stuff.”
“There's been more downfalls than successes, but there have been quite
a few successes.”
Merrill generally works the night shift and assists the residents with
evening activities.
“When I started in psychology, I didn’t think it'd be like this. But I
always wanted to work with kids,” said Merrill.
Although her work schedule is demanding, Merrill still keeps in shape
with her own workouts when she has spare time. She also stays involved
with sports by coaching two youth basketball teams at the YMCA in Lowell.
Should things become a little less hectic next summer, she hopes to don
football pads again with the Storm. And as often as she can, Merrill plans
to support the Storm this summer.
“I definitely can’t wait to go back (to the team),” Merrill said. “They
have my full support and any games I can make, I'll be there rooting them
on.”
©
Tewksbury/Wilmington Town Crier, 2004