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Ali preps for the USMA
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Ali Grapevine at Lowellville Western Reserve vs Lowellville girls basketball.
By John Kovach
Lowellville graduate Ali Grapevine rehabilitated her injured knee at prep school.
FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. — Former Lowellville High basketball standout Ali Grapevine is glad that she chose to attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School for the 2008-09 school year, instead of going directly into the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
The 6-foot-1 forward and center, who injured her knee in the final game of her senior year at Lowellville, and also was not satisfied with her school work in mathematics, said she needed a year to heal and get smarter before facing the academic and athletic challenges of West Point.
By attending prep school, Grapevine had to commit 10 years instead of the usual nine to the U.S. military. So after four years and graduation from West Point, she will have to spend five more years in the U.S. Army.
“I am actually really happy going to prep school. It gives me a better insight to what we are going to do next year. It is a good experience. It gives me the freedom of being away from home,” said Grapevine, the daughter of Nancy and John Grapevine of Lowellville, who played for Coach Tony Matisi at Lowellville High.
“My knee gave out [in high school] and I realized I needed to take my time to get better physically as well as to get better academically. I am confident now that I will do well in math. That was my only weak subject.”
Although Grapevine graduated with a 3.7 grade-point average at Lowellville, she wasn’t satisfied with mathematics.
“I didn’t have horrible grades in math but I wasn’t comfortable in certain areas,” said Grapevine.
“I was weak in math and they helped me so much in math. They helped me a lot. It was a great experience.”
Grapevine, whose given name is Alison, also said that she has improved as a basketball player this season as a member of the Prep team, and is looking forward to playing for West Point as an eligible freshman next season.
“We were 17-2 this season and it wasn’t as demanding so it did give me the time to rehab on my knee and pick up some new things for next year,” said Grapevine, one of five recruits on the team that also included other women attending Prep school for academic improvement but without plans to play for the Cadets next season.
The 17 wins set a school record, exceeding 16 wins by the 2004-05 team.
“I improved in ball handling and being able to do more things under pressure, whereas last year [at Lowellville] I was one of the biggest girls in the league and I didn’t have a problem with anyone coming at me,” said Grapevine. “It was good competition and a learning experience. I have a better outside shot to go with my inside shot.”
One of two Prep players who are 6-1 (the tallest on the team), Grapevine said she got valuable experience being challenged by a taller player.
“We played against Blair Academy in New Jersey and played against a girl [who was] 6-4. She played for the English national team last year and she was amazing. She is the tallest girl I played against. I think I played OK [against her]. I was pretty intimidated.”
Grapevine said she has visited West Point many times and has become quite familiar with the surroundings and the people.
“We’ve been up there for a lot of games and during our official [recruiting] visit, and I got to go up there when I was a junior when I made my commitment,” said Grapevine, whose love of country and history motivated her to seek a military education.
“I just always felt a connection to the military. I don’t know why,” said Grapevine. “I loved history and studying about World War I and II and the Civil War. I just I wanted to make a contribution, and I felt that going to West Point and committing five years to the U.S. Army would be a good way of doing that.”
Nancy Grapevine said that her daughter’s decision to attend prep school was for the best because, after Ali hurt her knee at Wellsville, ”She was laid up four months after surgery. She was unable to run track and it also played a big part in her decision to make her commitment to West Point 10 years long instead of nine.”
Nancy also said that Ali is facing many tough challenges.
“Ali went to CCBT [Cadet Candidate Basic Training] on July 18 and spent 4 weeks in a military boot camp situation at Fort Monmouth and Fort Dix, N.J. She came through with flying colors and will have to attend Beast this summer at West Point; it is eight weeks long.
“She is very happy with her how everything turned out and has decided that USMAPS was one of the best things that she has ever done.”
kovach@vindy.com