Marianna Merritt, a 2025 graduate of BFA-Fairfax High School, joined the Vermont State University Johnson Badgers women’s soccer team for the 2025 season. The Badgers went into the North Atlantic Conference as a fourth seed, earning a home playoff berth, before falling in the playoffs.
Merritt was well-known during her high school years for her successful Alpine ski racing; she raced as an independent for BFA-Fairfax.
Q&A Marianna Merritt
Why did you decide to attend Vermont State University Johnson? I didn’t want to go far for school; I wanted to stay local; I love Vermont. I saw they had a soccer program, and I talked with the women’s soccer coach, Norm Peterson, who recruited me. I thought it would be a great fit. They also had a nursing program, and I liked the school. It’s small, and everyone knows each other. I decided to play soccer to stay fit and to keep up with a sport. I met the team, and they were so nice, engaging, and supportive. The coaches were really good, so I thought it might be a good opportunity for me.
When Coach Norm recruited me, I realized I enjoyed the sport, liked being physical on the field, and enjoyed making friends. It was a great way to meet people and make connections. I love soccer, and when he reached out, I thought, “Maybe I won’t be done.” He explained that it was a great opportunity to get to know people, get to school early, and meet people who were on fall sports teams. I got to connect with the team and get comfortable at the school before everyone else arrived.
How was your first college soccer season? The season was really good. I started out playing here and there and eventually earned a starting position. I did have a little injury and was out for a couple of weeks. It’s been a really fun and enjoyable season.
What have you enjoyed about playing for your college coaches? The coaches were really good at making sure everyone was healthy to play. They asked how we’re doing and prioritize school. If you have a conflict with school, school always comes first. Our practices are intense, but not as intense as at a D1 school. The coaches are really easy to talk to and very approachable. Coach Norm is very positive and flexible. Our assistant coaches—both offensive and defensive — are really good. I played center D and right wing in the back. I worked with the defensive coach, and that was great.
What was your inspiration to study nursing? All my skiing injuries inspired me. I saw how hard the nurses worked. I knew I wanted to stay in a field where I could help people. I’m currently in health science, taking some prerequisite courses. I’ll transfer to the nursing program next year. The advisers have been really helpful. The classes were difficult at first, and there were adjustments from high school. Once I got into the rhythm of it, it became much easier.
What did you find to be the biggest change from high school to college soccer? The conditioning level is more advanced. We had to train over the summer to maintain endurance, and we had a full packet of workouts to do and miles to run. The other thing that shocked me was the aggressiveness of play. I’m a physical player, and how I play is the norm in college. Everyone is physical and aggressive, and it’s a contact sport compared to high school.
Looking back at your high school years, how did they prepare you for college? My senior year was really great. It was a great season, and the senior group had been together since elementary school. We had a strong connection and were basically family. High school soccer was a great experience — it was more than a game. College is more about the game — the game is important. My high school years helped prepare us for the team aspect. I never expected to play soccer in college after finishing my senior year.
What has been one of your memorable moments from this season? Getting to know everyone and the long bus rides will be what I remember most. I’ll also remember one of our games against a tough team, when we ended up winning. It was a big deal for us. In a preseason game, I got to play Paige Cargill, my former BFA-Fairfax teammate, who’s at Castleton. It was weird playing against one another — going from teammates to opponents.
BFA-Fairfax Alpine ski racer, Marianna Merritt, pictured, raced to a fourth place finish in the first race of the 2024-2025 season.
Will you be skiing this winter? I’d like to do some training to keep up my skiing. I’m taking this winter off to ski for fun and enjoy the sport in a non-competitive way.
How did ski racing help your mindset in soccer? I always liked having sports at separate times. Soccer helped me build endurance for skiing. Whether training for soccer or skiing, I was helping myself with both sports. Being in the gym for cardio or weights helped me prepare for both seasons.
Skiing 100 percent was way more mental than soccer. Ski racing puts so much pressure on the individual, and it’s also more physically draining. I know I got caught up in some mental games with skiing; soccer is mental, but you don’t take it out on yourself. You’re not playing for yourself–it’s for the team. Mistakes will happen, but you don’t have to carry the weight alone.
Do you have wise words for young athletes? Keep an open mind. You never know what life is going to throw at you. Things happen for a reason — that happened to me with soccer and recruiting. I never expected that to happen. I kept my mind open, trusted my gut, and ended up really loving it. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and get advice from others. You’ll find someone who has an answer — whether they’re older or younger.
Thank yous: I’d like to thank my family, my mom and dad, Jenn and Nick. My grandparents, family friends, and my boyfriend have supported me. I have a great group of supporters.
