Athlete of the Week-Melissa Rodden

One of the most unique and enjoyable aspects of playing high school sports in Plymouth is, of course, the intense rivalry between Plymouth North and Plymouth South. Often times the two schools are evenly matched. Wins are hard earned, and highlights of the games are etched into an athlete’s memory for years to come.

But rare is the case of an athlete who has never been beaten by their Plymouth rival.

Consider Melissa Rodden, captain of the Plymouth South Lady Panther’s basketball team. Since joining varsity as a freshman she is a perfect 8-0 against the Eagles.

What could be responsible for Rodden’s success? Could it be superb coaching and her positive attitude?  Maybe it is her impressive leadership skills and talented teammates? 

Or is it her father’s motivational text messages, Taylor Swift lyrics, and Lil Wayne pre-game beats? 

Regardless of what is responsible for the streak, there is no denying the impact Rodden has had on Plymouth South athletics.  And this senior is not planning on slowing down after graduation.  Rodden has big plans for the future.

But post graduation plans will have to wait a few more months. There is more AAU basketball to be played this spring. However it is Rodden’s impressive high school basketball career which has earned her the title of Patch.com Athlete of the Week. 

What is your favorite moment of your basketball career?

My favorite statistic of my basketball career is never losing to North Plymouth. My favorite moment of my career was hitting two free throws in overtime against Falmouth, junior year, to help our team secure the ACL title.

How about your worst moment?

That would be the leaky roof episode. My junior year, we had a home seed in the first round of the tournament against Durfee. It was raining hard outside and the roof began to leak. Kids would run out on the court in between whistles and towel down the two areas of puddles where the roof was leaking. As the momentum of the game turned in our favor, the referees called the game with a little over a quarter remaining in the game.

The following night Durfee returned to our dry court to finish the game with a victory. I am still not over the Durfee loss.

What makes a successful motivator, leader, and team captain?

A successful team captain consists of being a leader both on and off the court. A captain is responsible for giving one hundred percent all the time, and it is important for a captain to have a positive attitude at practice. I genuinely believe a captain should want to be on the court everyday.

As a point guard it is my responsibility to control the "flow" of the game. The way I motivate my teammates is by being loud at practice. I strive to encourage them to work hard to finish every drill. Before games, we all motivate each other by screaming certain "pre-game chants," and also have a "team prayer."

What motivates you?

My father is the number one person who motivates me. My father is my biggest basketball supporter and he attends all of my games. Whether he is my actual coach, or coaching me from the stands, he always has my back. The night before a game we will stay up late talking about how to beat the next day's opponent. Often on the day of a game, I will wake up to a motivational note wishing me good luck. My dad also sends me texts throughout the day to get me pumped for my game.

I also get extremely motivated when people doubt me. If you say I can not do something, then you are just fueling the fire for success.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future are to become a lawyer. I am planning on attending college in the fall; however I am not sure where yet. 

As of right now, I would love to attend Suffolk because it is close to home. I've always envisioned myself going to college in the city. If I decide to go to Suffolk, I will major in English, minor in political science, and work toward being accepted into Suffolk Law School.

Where I attend college will play a role in how my athletic career continues.

What is on your ipod these days?

My ipod holds a wide variety of music. My favorite singer is by far Taylor Swift. However, I love rap music the best. I listen to a lot of Lil’ Wayne before a game and I love Eminem's old music.

Is there anyone you would like to thank?

 I'd like to thank my family for attending my games. I would also like to thank both of my parents for always supporting me through my high school career. My brothers and sister deserve a thank you for making signs and yelling at the games. I'd like to thank my two coaches for always pushing me toward success. And I'd like to thank my teammates for all the laughs along the way.