Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250042
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY D. DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For now, let's just say the 18-year-old from Salem is this year's Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club Scholarship winner.
For the first time in its five-year history, the six-member scholarship committee has chosen a female for the $4,000 grant to be dispersed over four years.
"I was shocked. Totally shocked," said Allison, who thinks she won the scholarship because she has definite plans for the future.
"I knew exactly what I wanted to do in college," she said.
The scholarship committee chose Allison over six other applicants based on citizenship, academics and soccer participation, said chairwoman Rayner England.
Any high school senior who has played on a club team and will attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university may apply for the award.
Allison's family was pleased because she has worked really hard, said her mother, Scottie Krupa.
Her brother, Tripp Waymack, a sophomore at Glenvar, was equally proud. He has started calling her the $4,000 woman.
Allison and Tripp have a unique relationship. They both play for Glenvar's varsity soccer team.
"Most brothers and sisters don't want to have anything to do with each other," said coach Steve Franco, between yelling directions and compliments to his players. "But not these two.'' At a recent Thursday afternoon practice, Allison, the sleeves rolled up on her Crestar Tournament T-shirt, and Tripp joked with each other during a diagonal passing drill.
"Good cut. Good pass," Franco said during Allison's turn.
Allison has about nine years' soccer experience. She quit when she was in the sixth grade and living in Charlotte, N.C., because of the coed teams.
"Around sixth or seventh grade, the boys got really big," her mother said. "They carried her off the field a couple of times. She quit playing until we moved here."
Allison, a Richmond native, has played for the Stars for three years.
"Stars helps your skills and helps you improve," she said. "We travel, and that's also good.''
Allison is extremely coachable, cooperative, and has a wonderful attitude, said her under-19 Stars coach, Steve Bodley.
"I see her dedication to the game," he said.
There's not as much pressure at the high school level, but she didn't like playing coed at first.
"When I was a freshman, I used to get knocked around a lot. The coaches were afraid to play me," said Allison, who admits she was smaller than her present 5-foot-6-inch, 115-pound frame.
Now, she is a consistent starter at midfield for the Glenvar team.
One thing separates Allison from other players, Franco said. "Intelligence, quite honestly. It's difficult to teach people to be quick thinkers," he said.
"She's this ... presence. Wherever she is on this field, I know I don't have to worry about this position."
Allison ranks eighth in a class of 95 at Glenvar, and has a 3.5 grade-point average. She is taking three advanced-placement courses even though her school recommends taking only two.
She plans to take her academic skills to Virginia Tech this fall, where she will follow in her stepfather's footsteps and major in environmental engineering.
"She always wanted to go to Tech," her mother said. "She applied early admission, and she got in. She didn't think of anything else."
Allison's activities and awards sheet reads like an advertisement for Nike. You know, "Just Do It."
Besides soccer, she plays softball, basketball, lacrosse and runs track and cross-country. She has participated in science fairs since ninth grade, with projects focusing on environmental science. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Math Club and Theatre Glenvar High.
Her family says she is hardly at home because she always has something going on.
"She seems to have struck a balance," Krupa said. "Instead of spending all her time on one thing, she balances her life. I know she could have made a 4.0, but she said to me 'Mom, I have other parts of my life.' She realizes the importance of having a well-balanced life.''
"There's no one else in school like her," Tripp said. "You can't label Allison.''
"Students that excel in all-around areas are few and far-between," said Judy Ferguson, here guidance counselor at Glenvar.
"She has real definite opinions and feelings," said Nancy Robison, Allison's government teacher. "It warms your heart when a person like that gets [a scholarship]," she said.
Allison wants to continue playing soccer, but may not be able to because of her rigorous academic schedule at Virginia Tech. She does have other options in mind.
"I'd like to get into coaching. If I have kids, I'd definitely like for them to play," she said. "I really want to continue with soccer."
by CNB