From Red Raider to River Hawk: Kirwan makes the move

By Paul D'Agostino/Melrose Free Press Correspondent



The cold weather in New England winters is sometimes best confronted by the atmosphere of a warm gym on a cold night. The players race up and down the hard wood floor attempting to put a 29 inch orange ball through a 10-foot high hoop. The sport alone attracts fans, and peaks people’s interest.

Not to mention that the city of Boston is currently celebrating its seventeenth professional basketball championship.

Boston has finally received a return to glory, so to speak. Expectations were high this season, and the team delivered. Some 20 minutes north of Boston, expectations are also high, and Melrose girl’s basketball doesn’t often disappoint.

Meghan Kirwan doesn’t often disappoint. Not her teammates, not her coaches, not her family, and most importantly, not herself.

Kirwan capped off her high school career as a Red Raider this past season with league MVP honors. She averaged upwards of 18 points per game, was a team captain, and one of only two seniors on a young team.

“Meghan is a great leader on and off the court,” said Coach Rob Ferrante. “She excelled on the court and earned herself a scholarship to UMass-Lowell.”

UMass-Lowell will be her destination in the fall of 2008, but there’s plenty more to tell about Meghan than just her college plans.

She was a two-year starter at Melrose and a three-year varsity letter winner. Her junior year saw the team make a trip to the finals, and as a freshman she was called up for the state tournament, where she won her Eastern Massachusetts championship.

“Being able to play at the Garden was amazing,” said Kirwan. “To make it that far, see the Celtics locker room, all of it, it was really amazing.”

It’s fitting that Kirwan moves on from Melrose with the opportunity to further her basketball development in the college ranks. After all, it was her goal, and intention all along.

“I was born into basketball,” said Kirwan. “My dad played, my sister played, and I just fell in love with it at a young age. Eventually I stopped playing other sports to focus on basketball. My goal was to achieve the opportunity to play in college.”

Kirwan may have accomplished her goal, but that doesn’t mean things stop there. Although her high school career has concluded, there is still very much left for her to accomplish, and she is prepared for the hard work that awaits her. Not only is she prepared for it, she welcomes it.

“[Kirwan’s] passion, dedication and drive shine through daily,” said Ferrante. “UMass-Lowell noticed that about her, and saw that she’s only going to improve in college.”

Knowing your strength as a player is a key component to success, and college coaches love a player who is aware of their limitations but is willing to push the envelope, eventually turning weaknesses into strengths.

Kirwan is fortunate that her game doesn’t have many holes in it, but that doesn’t mean she stops working on things.

“My strength would have to be my motivation,” said Kirwan. “I’m driven to be successful and that helps every part of my game. I’m primarily a shooter, so I’m always working on my shot and everything else that goes along with it. I’m never satisfied.”

Perhaps her greatest accomplishment this past season can’t be found on a stat sheet. A true testament to Kirwan’s selflessness was her display as captain of a very young team.

“[Kirwan] was a tremendous captain,” said Ferrante. “She made sure the team had unity. Everyone was involved, and the younger classmen were focused due to her. She is a great kid, a great leader, and will be successful with whatever she does with her life.”

The high praise from Coach Ferrante isn’t lost on Kirwan. She admits that when all is said and done, her strongest high school memory may very well be the culmination of her journey through Melrose basketball, and receiving her diploma from her very proud coach.

“It was special to me,” said Kirwan. “I was the ball girl for the Melrose team since fourth grade. It was an honor to play at Melrose and have four amazing years. I asked him to give me my diploma, and it really was special.”

Now it’s up to Kirwan to make some more special memories as a Riverhawk as she sets her sights on the Northeast-10 Conference.