Melissa Finkle-Rodriguez

Melissa Finkle-Rodriguez

Melissa Finkle-Rodriguez
(Soccer, 1996)


This 1996 Danbury High graduate was a standout in three team sports and is 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Melissa Finkle-Rodriguez. Not only did Melissa play soccer, basketball and softball, but she was a varsity player in all three sports for four years. In her athletic career at Danbury High, Melissa achieved numerous athletic honors. In 1993 and 1994 Melissa was All State, All Area and All FCIAC in soccer. In 1995 and 1996 she was second team All Area in basketball. In 1996 Melissa was All FCIAC West in basketball and team captain, All Area in softball and she received the Edward J. Crotty Award. Her 1995 Danbury High softball team made it to the FCIAC finals. After Melissa's 1996 graduation from Danbury High, she continued her career at West Virginia University playing Division I soccer from 1996 until her graduation in 2000. While at West Virginia she was named Mountaineer Athlete of the Week in 1996, and also that year was awarded the Big East Rookie of the Week Award. She scored the first goal in West Virginia Woman's soccer history. In 1998 Melissa was named the team's Most Defensive Player and in 1999 she was soccer team captain. Melissa graduated from West Virginia University in 2000 with a degree in sports management and received a Master's degree in education from the University of Bridgeport. She is currently a third grade teacher at Morris Street School and stays active in sports by coaching youth soccer. Melissa and her husband of seven years, Mike, have two children, Mason and Mallory.