Home Page

User Pages

Businesses

Chat

Classifieds

Entertainment

Forums

Restaurants

Sports

Weather

---

Growing up in a household run by the former superintendent of the Delaware State Police and a current resort-area police chief, Matt Graviet was taught a thing or two about discipline.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when faced with the decision on where to play college football, Graviet, a Cape Henlopen High School senior, chose the U.S. Naval Academy over an impressive list of schools that tendered scholarship offers.

"I think it was something I really wanted to do and wanted to have," he said. "I've always kind of been high on morals. Hopefully, it will give me a little bit of an edge."

A two-time First Team All-State selection in football and the Delaware's Lineman of the Year in 1998, Graviet turned down offers from Delaware, Villanova, East Carolina and Elon in order to become a Midshipman.

"He had a lot of great opportunities to chose from. It was a tough decision for him," Cape football coach Brian Donahue said. "It's a great place for any kid to go. He's a real disciplined-type kid."

Graviet, the son of Bethany Beach Police Chief Cliff Graviet, had thought about attending the Naval Academy since his freshman year in high school, when he went to football games and wrestling matches at the campus in Annapolis, Md. A recent recruiting visit sealed his decision.

"The apprehensions I had were cleared up," said Graviet, who was initially concerned about the demands of juggling academics and athletics. "It was a big lift for me. It was a good feeling. I was starting to get a lot of pressure."

Graviet will attend prep school in Providence, R.I. for one year before heading to Annapolis. During that year, he will play football and adjust to the demands of military life. He will also attempt to increase his weight from 250 to 275 pounds.

"They want me to be a little bit bigger," he said.

After prep school, he can either report to the Naval Academy in July to begin plebe summer or waive his appointment and accept a college scholarship with five years of athletic eligibility.

If, as expected, he attends the academy, Graviet must fulfill a four-year military commitment after graduation.

The prospect of having a number of high-paying jobs lined up after his military service is one of the aspects that proved most attractive.

"I was a little worried about going to other schools and not having a job when I came out," Graviet said.

Graviet also hopes to wrestle at the academy if he can handle the demands of being a two-sport athlete. He is 23-1 this season as Cape's top heavyweight wrestler and is a strong contender for a state title after finishing fifth in the state as a junior and third as a sophomore.

The appointment to the Naval Academy also capped what has been a trying year for the Graviet family.

During the summer, when Graviet was enduring two-a-day football practices, his mother Janet was diagnosed with kidney cancer. This came less than a year after she had undergone colon cancer surgery. In the third week of football season, she underwent surgery again to remove part of her kidney.

"It was kind of tough but everybody on the team was really supportive," Graviet said.

Janet Graviet is now back at her Rehoboth Elementary School teaching job and Matt noted she remained positive throughout the ordeal.

"It was upsetting but she didn't let us know," he said. "She made it easier on us."

With his mother's heath improving, Graviet can now focus on the remaining months of his high school career and the adventure that lies ahead.

It's an adventure only a privileged few get the opportunity to experience.

"I try not to do things the easy way sometimes," he said. "I like the challenges."