Harvard's a fit for basketball, academic standout Tworek

When Grace Tworek first entered the Fremd program, she told Vikings coach Dave Yates that playing basketball at an Ivy league school was her goal.

And now it is clear that field goals aren't the only goals she can convert.

The Vikings junior forward has made a verbal commitment to play basketball for Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world and the oldest U.S. institution of higher learning.

"To see her work hard and accomplish this goal makes me very proud of her," Yates said. "Grace is an excellent student who takes her studies very seriously."

Tworek said she chose Harvard not only because she was impressed by its academics but for basketball reasons as well.

"I instantly felt comfortable with the coach as well as the girls on the team," she said. "Having the chance to attend Harvard is an opportunity of a lifetime."

Tworek has been on the honor roll at Fremd every semester and she has a very rigorous class schedule, including numerous AP classes.

" I'm unsure about my exact field of study," she said. "But I have interest in economics and psychology."

Tworek started playing basketball as soon as she could at the local park district.

"As a kid, I loved every sport but basketball was the one I enjoyed the most," she said. "So as I got older I began putting more time and effort into it."

It paid off as Tworek made Fremd's varsity squad as a freshman and was an all-area selection as a sophomore.

She steadily improved in her second year, averaging 5.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks.

Tworek's rebounding, steals, blocked shots and assists were a huge part of the Vikings' success.

Yates said she was just scratching the surface.

Playing at the Division I level became a goal for Tworek but even then she found it hard to imagine it would be in the Ivy League.

"As I got older I realized the opportunities that accompany playing at the next level," she said. "Even up to the beginning of my high school career, the Ivy's seemed untouchable," she said. "But then I realized if I put in work both academically and in basketball, the Ivy's could become a reality.

"Exciting is an understatement. I always heard about how great a school Harvard was when I was younger but never did I imagine getting the opportunity for myself to attend."

For now, she loves attending Fremd and playing basketball .

"Nothing compares to the level of closeness I share with my teammates," Tworek said. "I'm pretty lucky to be able to play the sport I love - with people I love, too. Coach Yates was a huge help throughout my entire recruiting process. I think I could speak on behalf of my whole team when saying that we all share an immense amount of respect for him."

Tworek also credits her parents and siblings with supporting her basketball career.

"I am beyond thankful to have such a family-oriented upbringing," she said. "I have had some of the best teammates and coaches a player could ask for, all of which have pushed me to reach this level. After finishing second at state last year, I could not be more excited for what is to come this season."