Radnor’s Melissa Massimino is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

Melissa Massimino, a senior midfielder/defender, has had an eventful lacrosse career for the Raiders. Last spring, she was an All-American and an Academic All-American and a first team All-Main Line and All-Central League selection. The Georgetown University-bound Massimino caused 31 turnovers, won 27 draw controls, collected 32 ground balls and scored 10 goals last year for Radnor. As a freshman, she was a starter for the PIAA state champion Raiders. She comes from an athletic family – both of her older sisters (Nicole and Megan) were three-sport stars (soccer, basketball, lacrosse) for Radnor, and her grandfather is the late legendary Villanova basketball coach Rollie Massimino.

Q: What were your goals for this spring lacrosse season? What aspects of your game did you work on most during the off-season? 

A: My goal for the season was to win the state championship with my team! Unfortunately I tore my ACL in the first game of the playoffs last season, so I mainly focused on rehabbing my knee during the off-season and getting back into running shape.

Q: What was your favorite memory of your Radnor lacrosse career?

A: My favorite Radnor lacrosse memory was starting and winning the PIAA state championship my freshman year!

Q: What are your thoughts about the cancellation of the spring lacrosse season because of the COVID-19 pandemic? 

A: I was very disappointed when I heard the season was cancelled, but understood the safety measures needed to be taken. Last year, I didn’t get to finish the lacrosse season because I tore my ACL which also resulted in me missing my final soccer and basketball seasons as well. I was really looking forward to making another state championship run; my team was very experienced this year and I think we had a great shot at winning.

Q: You started playing lacrosse in first grade, as your mom (Chrissy) ran the Radnor Youth Lacrosse League, and both of your older sisters (Megan and Nicole) went on to play Division I lacrosse. Who have been your most important lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

A: My lacrosse mentors would definitely be my two older sisters. They made me very competitive and taught me what I had to do to play at my highest level. They both set a great example for me.

Q: Do you have a good story to relate about your famous grandfather, Rollie Massimino?

A: My grandfather would always would always push me to work hard. One of my favorite stories with him is he once bet me I couldn’t beat my record mile time. He gave me one week to prepare, and by the end of the week I beat my time. He was so happy even though he lost the bet! He lived with us for about a month every spring so he would come to my lacrosse games. He would always talk strategy about the game with me afterwards – even though he didn’t know half of the rules, he was just fascinated by the game

Q: What attracted you to Georgetown? What do you think you might want to major in at Georgetown? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?

A: I was attracted to Georgetown because of the level of academics and lacrosse. The location is a perfect distance from home, and I am a big fan of Big East basketball.

Fun facts – Melissa Massimino

Favorite book: Wonder. 

Favorite TV show: Friends.

Favorite movie: White Chicks.

Favorite athlete: Josh Hart.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Hotel Room Service.

Favorite team: Villanova basketball.

Favorite place to visit: Lake Placid, N.Y.

Family members: parents Andrew and Chrissy, sisters Megan and Nicole.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)

To view a gallery of the Main Line Girls Athletes of the Week from 2013 to present click here