I had the pleasure of coaching Merissa when she played on the school's modified lacrosse team in 7th grade. She excelled even at that level. Her stick skills and knowledge of the game exceeded those of her teammates. Merissa was an asset no matter where she was asked to play on the field and could be relied upon to step up when the team needed her most. While I haven't personally coached her in recent years, I've been able to watch her continue to grow (as a player and as an individual) and advance her skills in practices and games while on the varsity team. Not only is she a great athlete, Merissa also possesses qualities that make her a well rounded individual. She displays leadership, kindness, intelligence, and hustle, both on and off the field. I have no doubt that Merissa would be an asset on any college lacrosse team.