Melissa Merrill

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.
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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.
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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.