By: By: Brett Richardson
BOSTON, Mass. - Growing up to become a TV news personality in the Boston area is something many would consider to be a one-in-a-million opportunity. But former UMass Lowell women's soccer teammates and current meteorologists at WBZ-TV in Boston Sarah Wroblewski '05 and Danielle Niles '06 have proven those odds to actually be two-in-a-million.
"When I was about 12, I went to a camp in the summertime and before going in for dinner one night, I looked up at the sky and it was green and pulsating," explained Wroblewski. "It looked like it was coming down and I asked a simple question of why? That intrigued me and sparked my interest in weather."
Fast-forward several years and Wroblewski found herself well on her way to pursuing her career goals as an atmospheric science major, as well as a women's soccer student-athlete at UMass Lowell when she first was introduced to someone who shared her passion for both soccer and the weather.
"Sarah and I met when I was 17," remembered Niles. "I was in high school and I wanted to come to UMass Lowell for soccer and meteorology."
Paired together during Niles' campus visit by then head soccer coach Elie Monteiro based off of their mutual interests, what started as a campus tour evolved into so much more.
"After that first meeting, I knew we would be lifelong friends," Wroblewski said. "We've shared a lot of great memories since."
On the field at UMass Lowell, both were named team captain during their tenure, helping to build a successful Division II program that made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament during Niles' senior season. Both also credit their time as a student-athlete as a big part of their future success.
"Being a student athlete was a key ingredient to being where I am today," commented Niles. "I still work with a team today, now it's just the weather team. There was also always adrenaline before big games, and I have to say there is adrenaline before big storms. There are actually a lot of different aspects of being a student-athlete that transfer over to being a broadcast meteorologist, like being able to handle the pressure and competitiveness, and also being able to multi-task."
"Having time management and structure is something you need after you graduate and in your professional career, and I think being a student-athlete helped push me to achieve a higher standard and reach for success," added Wroblewski.
Forging a connection in college as teammates and bonding over their career aspirations, Wroblewski and Niles took their friendship into the real world after graduation when they both stayed in Massachusetts as budding meteorologists working for different TV stations. The pair found it beneficial to have each other while embarking on a similar journey in life.
"Once a teammate, always a teammate," said Wroblewski. "We were used to a team atmosphere, so having somebody to be on that same path along the way with you and be as successful is awesome, especially because it is your actual teammate."
Niles has now been at WBZ-TV for five years after working at New England Cable News for the previous five years. Wroblewski, who had worked at Boston's FOX affiliate for the past eight years, joined the WBZ-TV team of meteorologists this past October, making it official that Niles and Wroblewski were once again teammates.
"I can't even believe I met her when I was still in high school and now we're working together," Niles joked. "We're really close, and I'm excited that (Sarah) is back at WBZ and we get to work together."
In a very competitive industry, it means a great deal to Niles and Wroblewski to be broadcasting in the environment in which they call home.
"I have roots here and I have a family here, and I've actually lived in Massachusetts longer than I lived in Connecticut," said Wroblewski, who is originally from Glastonbury, Conn. "It means the world to be able to forecast and work in New England where I grew up. I'm most familiar with this type of weather, which changes all the time, so it's awesome. I love it.
Niles, a native of Weymouth, Mass., echoed Wroblewski's appreciative sentiments when asked about the importance of working close to home.
"It means everything," commented Niles. "A lot of my friends and family are still in New England. And being able to forecast for New England weather, which is the mecca of weather because we get everything here, is literally a dream come true. I'm so happy to be here in Boston and I hope to be here for years to come."
Staying in New England also allows the former student-athletes to follow their alma mater. After watching a successful 2018 campaign, Niles is proud of how the program has evolved.
"When the school became Division I that was huge," she said. "They have been doing an amazing job and I'm so proud. It's been unbelievable to watch the progress they have made over the past decade."
In addition to the women's soccer team, Wroblewski also follows the River Hawk hockey program with her six-year-old son.
For Wroblewski and Niles, their fond memories of UMass Lowell go well beyond the pitch. They praise the education and guidance they received from Dr. Robert Gamache, and the rest of the Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department in the Kennedy College of Sciences for providing top-notch instruction.
"The education at UMass Lowell, along with the fundamentals of math and science for meteorology are superb, so it definitely gave me what I needed to be successful in my career," stated Wroblewski.
"It was some of the best four years of my life, and I credit an amazing education and an awesome soccer experience that got me to where I am," concluded Niles. "Especially the background in meteorology because it's a very rigorous program and I think that the education I received at UMass Lowell allowed me to become the scientist I am today."
Both Niles and Wroblewski agreed that their decisions to attend UMass Lowell gave them the 'best of both worlds' in terms of being able to play soccer and follow their passion in meteorology. Now, nearly two decades later, their lives remain on a similar path, as they are once again teammates, helping each other continue to pursue their goals.
