Two-time Colorado State Champion

WPBA Amateur National Champion

USA Representative in 3-World Championships

18 top-ten WPBA career finishes

In the beginning..... My love affair with playing pool started when I was seventeen and has continued ever since. It all began in Broomfield, Colorado in a small Mexican restaurant managed by my mother. It was there that I saw two teen-age boys challenge the restaurant owner to a game of pool and who later left with his money jingling in their pockets. After seeing Kevin Satterfield and Dave Evans play, I knew that this was something that I wanted to do, could do and would do some day.
My mom let me play pool at the restaurant in exchange for vacuuming the floors. Soon I was playing with the cook, the bartender and even the owner who easily outplayed me at that time. All these people seemed to recognize my potential and encouraged my pool playing. My mom has always remained my biggest supporter although at that time she was dubious about some of the outings with Kevin and Dave who introduced me to the pool playing spots in Denver. But, I was learning!

In the fall of 1987, I returned to work at Herbie's Deli on the CU campus in my hometown of Boulder, Colorado. Kevin and Dave also were there so the three of us could often be found hanging out at the campus poolroom. My friends thought I was a bit wacky when I scouted out the pool tables while they headed for the dance floor in our evenings out. They couldn't understand how much I loved this game.

I bought my first cue stick when I was twenty-one and decided to try my luck at a new club with a huge poolroom. There I met John who consistently beat me badly all night long. Weeks after, John offered to teach me the basics of playing pool.
Although we have lost contact, I will always be grateful for his encouragement, instruction and recognition of my "heart for the game" as he called it.

In 1993, my friend Kevin encouraged me to seek stiffer competition by playing at the Family Fun Center in Denver. Eventually I moved to Denver and continued to play at the Center where the guys taught me to play tough. They had confidence in me and believed that I had enough talent to beat any woman on the planet - if I were to just keep working at it.

In 1996, I started competing in monthly tournaments around the state, taking third in over-all points.

In 1997, I was in Seattle playing in a qualifier tournament for a place in a pro tournament two weeks later in Tacoma, Washington. With the crowd rooting for their own hometown favorite, and with only my boyfriend, Brett and my grandparents in my corner, I went undefeated to win my first WPBA qualifier. Later that year, the Frank Martin memorial Denver Women's Open and The Colorado State Championships were in my win column.

The 1997 Hunter's Tour tournament in New Mexico was a memorable one. My mom and step dad Dan were there to see me fight my way back from the loser's side to eventually beat Laura Smith (ninth world ranked at that time) in the final match to win that WPBA qualifier. By the end of 1997, I had played in three professional tournaments and held a ranking of 72nd in the WPBA.

In 1998 I received sponsorship from The Family Fun Center, Triangle Billiard Supply and Ernie Martin Custom Cues. This was my dream coming true. That year I won three of the four stops on The Terry McFadden/Viking Cues Women's Tour, the 1998 Colorado State Championships and two more WPBA qualifiers. My ranking then became 55th on the WPBA Tour.

By the end of the pro season in 1999, my WPBA standing had advanced to 48th in the world. Unfortunately, I was one person out from being invited to the WPBA Pro Nationals so I chose to compete in a qualifier at the Cue Club in Las Vegas.

Going undefeated the first two days of tournament play, and growing a bit nervous in anticipation of the finals; I called my mom for some words of support.

She reminded me of how, years ago, I would run around the pool table telling her that I was going to be a famous pool player some day and that that "some day" was now. I did win those finals and my first nationally recognized tournament. The WPBA Amateur National Championships.

Currently ranked 12th on the WBPA, my goal is to soon be in the top ten of the world. I strongly believe that you must have the support from your family and friends, stay mentally strong, set small goals, and stay focused to achieve your goals, not only at the pool table but also in life. I will continue to strive to be the best that I can be as my love affair continues with the game of pool.

Melissa is currently the house pro at The Wynkoop Brewing Company in Downtown Denver, has two lines of cues made by Jacoby Custom cues, teaches for the Colorado Free University, has developed pool software, has two book deals, and still focuses on her pool game, with the help of her coach Mark Haddad she will continue to be a very strong force on the WPBA Tour.