Only it’s not necessarily a dream come true.

That’s because not even Allison — who played volleyball, basketball and softball while at Youngsville High School — could ever have dreamt this up.

She’s a sophomore on Robert Morris University’s women’s rowing team — a fully-funded NCAA DI sport.

If you know Ali, you know her as an athlete. But even she admits this came out of left field.

Photos courtesy of Carl Leichtenberger

When she was accepted into the nursing program at Robert Morris (with a minor in forensics), Ishman figured she’d concentrate on her education.

“I’m not going to play sports,” she said then.

There aren’t any PIAA high school rowing teams in District 10, obviously.

Rowing is a unique NCAA sport in that you don’t need to have any experience to give it a try. Though athleticism is a plus.

In fact, most of Robert Morris’ team is comprised of rookies and novices, which is what Ali was considered last year, her freshman year.

Photos courtesy of Carl Leichtenberger Ali Ishman.

She had her basketball sneakers all ready for some type of intramural league at her new college, but “the rowing coaching staff and team were just so welcoming.”

She said they are “understanding” and patient.

So she “walked on” the team.

After one day on a rowing machine — which is exactly what you would picture a rowing machine to be –she was already in the water for day two of practice.

“We had about a three-week learning period,” she said.

Photos courtesy of Carl Leichtenberger

Ishman was told from the start that height really plays a huge advantage in rowing. And she’s 5-foot-3; possibly a reason she’s not a DI volleyball or basketball player.

But, she was a dancer.

Believe it or not, “you have to have really good posture (to be a good rower),” said Ishman, adding they told her her dancing background helped with that.

It doesn’t hurt to be incredibly strong.

And dedicated.

Photos courtesy of Carl Leichtenberger Ali Ishman.

“It’s really practice year-round,” she said.

On her resume from last season:

— Made her collegiate debut in the Novice 8 A boat, recording a time of 19:23.7 to secure 5th place at the Head of the Ohio;

— Saw action in the Novice 8 that dominated the competition with a time of 8:18.39 to earn gold at the Occoquan Sprints;

— Helped the Novice 4 at the Occoquan Sprints to earn silver with a time of 9:15.34, trailing only Loyola (9:08.58);

Photos courtesy of Carl Leichtenberger Ali Ishman.

— As 7 seat, Ali helped the Novice 8 sail into 3rd place at the Kerr Cup, crossing the line with a time of 8:44.27;

— Assisted the Novice 8 into 2nd place at the Duquesne Invitational, crossing the line with a time of 7:46.98, their boat’s best 2k thus far;

— With only 2 seconds between 5th and 6th place, the Second Varsity 8, assisted by Ali, exceeded their 6th place ranking to sail into 5th with a time of 8:27.33 at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships.

“Ali was a walk-on to our novice squad last year, designed to teach those with no prior experience the sport of rowing,” said Robert Morris coach Nelle Stahura. “Rowing is a sport that can be picked up relatively quickly and experience doesn’t always mean speed. Thus, the novice program allows us to add to our roster while providing an incredible opportunity for young women like Ali, who were never exposed to rowing before college.

“Our novice coach, Carol Schoenecker, spent the last season developing Ali and her first-year teammates into one of the strongest novice classes we have ever seen,” said Stahura. “This is what she had to say about Ali: ‘Ali walked into novice rowing last year with an iron focus and a calm intensity, completely determined to master the rowing stroke. Her ability to stay calm and consistent under pressure, her attention to detail, and her strong work ethic have molded her into a natural leader and an asset to any crew she rows with.'”

Not to mention, she absolutely loves it.

Going from not even understanding what a “coxswain” position is, to having every muscle in your body ache (because you use every muscle in your body to row), to competing in one of two varsity boats for Robert Morris this year.

Yes, a Division I athlete.

She’s not yet sure which of the top two boats she’ll race in. She was in the second varsity boat on Saturday at the Mercyhurst Classic in Findlay Lake, N.Y.

There are shorter sprints, but Saturday’s race was 5,000 meters. Ishman rows in eight-person boats — typically in the 7-spot –and four-person boats — typically in the 3-spot.

It’s a more-complicated sport than just defining what a coxswain is (the person that everyone else faces and they steer the boat, like the rowers’ coach, by the way).

But this has been the experience and experiment of a lifetime for Ishman.

Lifting weights three days a week, rowing practice six days a week… “There’s a lot of technique involved,” said Ishman. “A lot of stamina.”

The coaches’ mantra for the team: “Embrace being uncomfortable.”

That probably defines the sport.

“Since she has moved up to the varsity squad this year, I have been extremely impressed with Ali,” said Stahura. “We always say that our primary expectation for our athletes is that they work hard and always try to be better than the day before. Ali is a perfect example of that type of tenacity. It was clear from the day we started practice this fall that she was determined to get better at rowing, every day. She is extremely coachable, with an ability to make the technical changes we ask of her, which I think can be attributed to a combination of good body awareness and her work ethic.”

The more you know Alison, the more you know that hindrances just serve as motivation.

And, according to her mom, Jolean, Ali is “crazy hard on herself.”

Mom and dad, Scott, were never sure how long the adventure would last, but are enjoying the ride. They said the amount of support for Ali from Warren County at this past weekend’s warm-up was incredible.

About the only negative to this whole experience?

“I am not a morning person at all, but my body gets used to it,” said Ishman, up at 4:40 a.m. for practices.

Now that hurts!

——

Robert Morris returns to the water to continue its fall season Saturday, Oct. 13, by competing against Duquesne and West Virginia in Pittsburgh.