While many athletes excel at one or two sports, at Clarkstown North High School, Barbara Mellen excelled at four. Barbara played soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball and was voted MVP and team captain of each of her
teams in both her junior and senior years.

On the soccer field as a right inner, Barbara earned 3 varsity letters and was All County twice. She set Rockland County records for the most goals scored in a game (7), and the most goals scored in a season (20). Barbara was a
setter on the volleyball team whereshe earned 3varsity letters and was voted All County in her junior and senior years. As a guard on the basketball team, she was a two year starter who averaged 14 points a game. In the springtime, Barbara played softball. As a left-handed short stop, she was a four year starter for Clarkstown North; not only was she the MVP three years, but also an All County selection in both her junior and senior years. Her senior stats were amazing: a batting average of .667 (leading the county), 43 RBIs, 19 triples, 20 stolen bases,
and 9 home runs.

During the summer months of her high school years, Barbara remained very active. She went to the Junior Olympics in Chicago for volleyball one year, and competed in the New York State Empire Games twice on the girls’ soccer team.
 
In 1976 Barbara enrolled at Westchester Community College and competed on the volleyball, basketball, and softball teams. As a guard on the basketball team, Barbara averaged 21 points per game and was selected All Region for the New York City area. In softball, Barbara developed into a pitcher, where she pitched both right and left handed. During her time at Westchester, Barbara played outside volleyball for a travel team named The East Team for
Volleyball that competed all over the United States and Canada.

In 1979 Barbara accepted a full scholarship to play volleyball at Florida State University. While playing at FSU Barbara was named to numerous All Tournament teams, and was voted Collegiate All State, MVP, and Conference All
Region in her Senior year. She graduated from FSU with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.

After college Barbara continued to stay active participating in many recreational softball leagues, but now spends most of her time with her husband Thomas Speerin watching their children compete on the athletic fields. They
live in Lake Worth, Florida and have three children: T.J., 25, Danny, 23, a recent graduate of Northwood University where he was a scholarship baseball player, and Carly, 20, who is currently enrolled at Indian River State
College and is on the softball team. This fall Carly will be playing softball for Florida Atlantic University on scholarship. In 1998 Barbara Mellen-Speerin was voted into the Clarkstown North Sports Hall of Fame.