After years of home-schooling, Great Oak's Aloia is making waves

By: ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | Monday, October 18, 2004 8:48 PM PDT ∞

Mike Norkin/For the California Great Oak Freshman tennis player Molly Aloia during practice on Monday
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Sports serve different purposes for different people. For Great Oak freshman Molly Aloia, they are a reason to go to high school.

Aloia, like her four older siblings, was home-schooled by her parents through eighth grade. This fall, Aloia enrolled at Great Oak, but after a week, she and her parents thought she might be better off continuing her home-schooling, and she left the Valley's newest school.

One thought, however, stuck in Aloia's mind while she was out.

"I missed playing on the tennis team," she said.

So Aloia re-enrolled and rejoined the tennis team.

"We realized the one thing we couldn't give Molly was the experience of playing high school sports," said Stephen Aloia, Molly's father. "It's been more than 30 years, but I still treasure my letterman's jacket. The long bus rides aren't fun at the time, but that's what you look back on and remember later.

"We wanted Molly to have that experience of playing for her high school."

Aloia is happy to be back at Great Oak and playing tennis for the Wolfpack, and the team is happy to have her back. Coach Joe Balleweg said the other players didn't react when Aloia left the team, and they all welcomed her back when she returned.

"They didn't even mention that she was gone, then when she was back, everybody was, 'Hi Molly,' and hugs, and off we went again," Balleweg said. "I have 22 of the best girls I've ever worked with. There was absolutely no problem at all."

Balleweg said it helps Aloia is fun to be around, and it doesn't hurt that she is the most talented player on the first-year team. The freshman, who plays in USTA tournaments regularly, is well ahead of her older teammates, according to Balleweg.

"Molly is special in terms of athletic ability," Balleweg said. "She moves like no freshman I've ever seen. She's incredible. She doesn't have any holes in her game. She hits every stroke expertly.

"She's a true No. 1."

Besides helping the Wolfpack with her play during matches, Aloia aids the team by serving as an example during practice. Balleweg called her the team's "model" because he has her demonstrate what he's is trying to teach the other players.

Aloia said she enjoys filling the role of team leader, even though she's just a freshman.

"I really like it," Aloia said. "I like to help the team."

The tennis team isn't the only squad at Great Oak that will benefit from Aloia's presence. She said she also plans to play soccer ---- "She's quite a soccer player, too" Balleweg said ---- and run track.

"It's fun," Aloia said about helping start and build the school's sports programs. "It's a great opportunity."

Ed Wehde can be reached at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2633 or ewehde@californian.com