“Triple Threat”

By Julia Martin, Virginia State University

(ETTRICK, Va) – – If she wasn’t already a “Koolaid,” a good nickname for Alonna Marable, a sophomore and student-athlete at Virginia State University might be “Triple Threat.”

 

Alonna Marable

Alonna arrived at VSU as a scholarship volleyball player, and because of her broad, engaging smile, her teammates dubbed her “Koolaid.” Now, she plays not one, but three sports.

In addition to playing volleyball, Alonna plays basketball and runs track. She was named “Student-Athlete of the Week” by the VSU Athletic Department in the first week of the volleyball season for delivering 31 kills. Thus, “Triple Play” is equally as appropriate. As a Scholar-Student-Athlete (SAL) – another “Triple Threat,” Alonna now attends the University on a full Army ROTC scholarship.

When asked about Alonna, Cpt. Jerry Dilworth had nothing but high praise. “She’s one of our top cadets,” he said. “She has a positive attitude, a wonderful personality and is liked a lot among the cadets and cadre (administration). I don’t see how she does it herself, participating in three sports and still being active in other parts of the community. She comes out with us on weekends when she’s not playing basketball; comes out during the week for leadership labs on Wednesdays, for practical training; and did the same for weekend trainings before basketball season began.”

“We would like to get 100 more cadets like her. She is a stellar cadet, well-known and well-respected in the ROTC community, including within the cadet command in our region,” which includes West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.

“I’m proud that I’ve been able to participate in three sports and still maintain good academics in class with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA),” Alonna said, with understated modesty.

With many students finding it difficult to roll out of bed for an early class, how does Alonna juggle practice, games, classes and drills?

Flexible ROTC instructors help. Alonna said whenever conflicts arise between athletics and ROTC, her instructors almost always allow sports to come first. Studying time comes after practice or between classes. She tries to get as much sleep as possible, because basketball practice, which began in August and continues through March, begins at 5 a.m. However, unlike pre-season basketball, when practices began at that time every day, practices during the season revolve around the game schedule, but are no less grueling.

Alonna initially came to VSU to try out for basketball, her first love, but was offered a volleyball scholarship. At the end of her freshman year, when she received the ROTC scholarship offer, she had to forego the athletic scholarship.

“I was happy to give my mom, who is a single parent, a break, to get some of the load off her,” Alonna said. “The scholarship provides full coverage of my tuition, books, room and board. I also get a $250 monthly allowance for personal expenses. It’s great.” Alonna admitted that her mom initially wanted her to take the ROTC scholarship before entering college. Now that she has it, so much the better.

Alonna said VSU’s Army ROTC actively seeks student-athletes for scholarships, particularly those with a 2.5 GPA or higher.

When asked what she liked most about ROTC, she said, “It helps me be more of a leader, teaches a lot of leadership skills.”

Alonna’s favorite sport is basketball. She’s looking to continue as VSU coach Peggy Davis’ starter at small forward this season. “She makes you feel like you can do anything,” Alonna said of Davis. “She’s a really tough conditioning coach. But, she makes it seem like everything else in life is easy.” As if Alonna doesn’t receive enough training on the hardwood, she completes “PT” or “physical training” every Friday morning with the ROTC.

“Alonna is an exceptional student-athlete,” said Coach Davis. “Exceptional, because she participates in a lot of things on campus. She excelled in all three sports her freshman year and is doing the same this year. She made the all-conference team for volleyball.”

Davis also noted that Alonna was chosen to represent VSU in the Community Service Leadership Program during the CIAA championship football competition in Winston Salem, NC, in early November. She said, “Overall, Alonna is a good, warm-hearted individual.”

Alonna’s favorite basketball player is WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw of the Washington Mystics. The Capitol Heights, MD, native is especially excited about the upcoming NBA season and Michael Jordan’s return. “I especially love that he’s playing for my other hometown team, the Washington Wizards,” she said. “I hope he can lead them to the playoffs for the first time in a long while.”

-more- “Triple Threat” Page 3 Running track was almost an after-thought to this young woman, whose life knows no “off season.” “Running track is really hard. It’s not something I anticipated,” she said. “I became involved when some of my volleyball teammates, who also run track, and Coach Andre Moore encouraged me to try out.”

Last year, Alonna won “Rookie of the Year” accolades for her participation in outdoor track. Winning, she said, made her feel somewhat obligated to come back and try to do the same for the team this year. She runs primarily in the Open 200 and competes in the long jump and an occasional relay.

Alonna’s classroom achievements are equally impressive. Her major is Mechanical Engineering Technology. Her aunt suggested the engineering major, because in high school, Alonna was good in math and had a high 3.6 GPA. Her aunt said engineering jobs pay well and are seeking more women.

After graduating, Alonna will be commissioned in the U. S. Army and serve anywhere from four to eight years, depending upon whether she seeks active duty. Alonna hopes the Army will send her to graduate school. In any case, she would like to continue pursuing her “hoop dreams” in the Army. “They let you choose your job, but if I could play basketball for the Army basketball team, hopefully that could be my job. If not, I would like to enter the Army engineering corps.”

She’s already preparing for graduation by looking for summer internships to gain on-the-job experience and putting her resume on-line at VSU’s Career Planning and Placement Center. She also plans to attend the campus job fair in the spring to gain exposure and learn what traits employers are seeking.

As if athletics and academics weren’t enough, she also finds time to participate in the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) and the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

This “Triple Threat,” with her athletic prowess and penchant for knowledge, seems to have a future as bright as her “Koolaid” smile.

Reprinted from the Trojan Pulse, Office of University Relations, Virginia State University - Fall 2001