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06/03/2021 12:00 AMWhen Melissa Martin accepted the position as head coach of the Old Saybrook softball squad this year, she thought back to when she was a member of the team at East Haddam as a high schooler. Melissa’s coach Suzy Miner created a culture of accountability within the program, helping Melissa grow into the person that she is today.
Melissa recently competed her first season as Old Saybrook’s head coach. As she progresses through her tenure, Melissa wants to take what she learned from her playing days in East Haddam and apply those philosophies in the Rams’ dugout.
“I come from a program that’s really built on tradition. Suzy held me accountable as a player, but more importantly, as a person,” says Melissa, a 2013 graduate who still lives in East Haddam. “She’s one of those coaches that challenges you on a daily basis to always be the best version of yourself and do whatever it takes to be successful. I also loved how she always encouraged a competitive spirit to love what you do and commit to something bigger than yourself, like the game or team.”
Old Saybrook Athletic Director Brendan Saunders is happy that he hired Melissa as Old Saybrook’s head coach, saying that she did “a fantastic job” with the squad this year. Saunders is looking forward to seeing what Melissa can accomplish with the Rams throughout the next few seasons.
“Melissa brings an incredible knowledge of softball and has passed that knowledge along to her athletes,” Saunders says. “The team had their first taste of postseason success, upsetting Morgan in the first round of the Shoreline Tournament. Everything looks very promising for Coach Martin and her squad next year.”
While the Rams only won three games this season, they earned an important postseason victory by defeating rival Morgan in the play-in round of the Shoreline Conference Tournament. Melissa was nominated as a Coach of the Year finalist in the Shoreline Conference for her efforts in 2021. Melissa wants to develop a positive culture at Old Saybrook for years to come.
“That’s the tradition I hope to build in Old Saybrook. Use the sport of softball to build relationships with student-athletes and give them the resources to be successful both on and off the field,” Melissa says. “Have the sport of softball be something the players here love to do with their teammates, build lifelong friendships, and learn life lessons that they can carry with them just like I did.”
Melissa says it was a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Coach of the Year candidate by her Shoreline Conference colleagues. Some of the coaches who nominated Melissa had seen her on the field when she competed for East Haddam.
“I felt really fortunate,” says Melissa. “To see our program be acknowledged in that way in front of a room of coaches where, some of them have been there since I was playing in high school, was nice.”
Along with being a first-year head coach, Melissa is also a first-year teacher at Old Saybrook High School. Melissa, who majored in health in physical education at Central Connecticut State University, is happy to have a chance to teach at the same place where she’s coaching.
“I started working at Old Saybrook in the fall as a teacher. Not long after that, I saw the coaching position open up on the softball team, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to participate in a sport that I love,” Melissa says. “I’m already excited about next season. We have a lot of core players returning, and we have some new faces coming up from the middle school that I’m looking forward to coaching.”
Old Saybrook’s roster features several players who are finding their stride on the ballfield, and Melissa already feels eager to work with them during the 2022 campaign. Some of the Rams’ up-and-comers include rising senior Mackenna Cooke, who plays third base; and soon-to-be sophomore Kelly Walsh, an outfielder. Melissa is hoping that the Rams can win some more games, get back into the playoffs, and go even farther next spring.
“Mackenna started the season for us at first base, but transitioned over to third as the year moved on. She really started to come into her own at the plate and out in the field. She became a huge part of our success, and I know she will build off of that next year,” says Melissa. “Kelly is another important player for us as she made significant contributions offensively and defensively as a freshman. I really am excited to see where this team goes.”