MELISSA SCHOONOVER graduated from Corning West High School in 1996. She was a key member of the Lady Vikings basketball team that captured the NYS Class B Championship in 1995, her junior season. While at West, her teams won the Section IV championship all three years of her high school career. During those three years, Melissa scored 604 points, grabbed 483 rebounds and recorded an amazing 200 blocked shots, which remains a school record. She served as captain of the team during her senior season when she was named to the All-Section IV team, the All-Twin Tiers team and the All-Leader team. Four times during her junior and senior seasons, Melissa was named the WENY Player of the Game. Aside from her numbers, it was her leadership and hard work that stood out on one of the best basketball teams ever at West High School. She earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Albany where she was a standout for four years before graduating in 2000.