BY JOHN O'MALLEY
POST-TRIBUNE

 

Tori Bliss can laugh about it now, but her competitive nature could go a long way in helping the Portage junior eventually repeat as the state's shot put champion.

As a Willowcreek Middle School athlete, Bliss played pickup tackle football games with the boys on weekends.

"It helped to feed my competitive edge when I was younger," Bliss said. "Since I played with all the guys, I had to work twice as hard being the only girl out there. I think that really helped me develop that competitive edge for high school sports."

Bliss said the boys were a little shy about tackling her at first because, "I was a girl."

She simply told the boys: "You wanted me to play and I'm out here playing with you, so don't hesitate to tackle me. I'm going to tackle you, so you might as well tackle me back.

"I think that made them realize I was there to play just like they were."

Bliss didn't just hold her own on the football field, she was able to open some eyes at the same time.

"I remember one of the last plays in one of our games," she said. "I was running the ball down the field and this guy was waiting there, at like the 15-yard line, ready to tackle me. His teammates were yelling: 'Get her. Get her.'

"But I was heading for the end zone and just kept going right at him at full speed. I just kind of lowered my shoulder and ran right over him."

At least the would-be tackler didn't hold any grudges after Bliss streamrolled over him and into the end zone.

"When we got out of school that year, he wrote me a note with a smiling face next to it in the school yearbook," Bliss said. "He said in the note: 'That hurt when you leveled me. Have a good summer.' "

Bliss went out for soccer last fall and ended up as Portage's starting goalie.

The Indians made it all the way to the regional title game before dropping a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime decision to Kankakee Valley.

"I enjoyed playing soccer," Bliss said. "It was fun to be with all the girls and win the sectional title. I didn't do too bad for my first year of varsity soccer."

Bliss used the lateral movement of moving step-to-step and side-to-side playing defense on the basketball court, to help her pick up goalkeeping quickly.

"It was a lot easier for me to pick it up that way," said Bliss, who played softball for the Indians as a freshman, while competing in the throws.

In basketball, Bliss is also one of the top post players in the area and a dominant rebounder.

Is there any sport this Indians' star athlete can't play?

Portage throws coach Mark Harsha likes what he's seen from Bliss already this spring.

A few weeks ago at Purdue, she won the shot put at the Hoosier State Relays with an effort of 45-4.

"That was the best effort indoors she's ever had," Harsha said. "We're where we should be right now. I was happy with her distance and how she competed."

Harsha said the competitive nature Bliss displays, is her greatest asset.

"She's very competitive within herself, and I think that's what really helps her a lot," Harsha said. "The way she's connected all the sports she's done from when she was little until now, has helped her become a good shot-putter. As she's gotten quicker and stronger, that's helped her as well. Tori's just a very competitive individual."

That competitive nature helped Bliss place sixth in the state as a freshman two years ago. It also helped her beat some talented juniors and seniors out for the state championship as a sophomore last year.

Bliss threw 48-2 at the Chesterton Regional last year before winning the state title with an effort of 46-113/4.

"My goal this year is to get down again to the state meet, and hopefully, go for a second title," Bliss said. "I also want to bring my discus distance up, so I can qualify for state in both events -- that's my ultimate goal."

Bliss finished fourth in the discus (114-2) at the sectional last year and didn't qualify out of the regional, but she's determined to improve her distance in that event, too.

Ever since she was young, Bliss has loved athletics. She began playing basketball and softball when she was six years old. She played touch football in grade school and volleyball in middle school.

"It's definitely helped, playing the other sports," she said. "It's helped me build that competitive edge to go out and get after it and try to be on top. Just going out and doing things 110 percent. ... I've had that mentality since I was little. Losing is something that never enters my mind."

While Bliss is confident in her abilities, she hasn't set any distance goals for throwing the shot put or discus this spring.

"I'm not really sure on any numbers or distances," she said. "I'm not sure what distances I actually want to hit this year. I'll probably work toward a goal for myself later in the season as I prepare for postseason."

While Bliss has turned some heads in athletics, she's managed to impress in the classroom as well. The last two grading periods, she's posted 3.7 and 4.14 grade point averages in honors courses.

"I'd like to throw in college, wherever that may be," Bliss said. "I haven't thought a lot about it, but I know I'd like to compete in track after high school."

For the time being, however, Bliss is concentrating on working hard and improving. She realizes by doing that, she has a greater chance of experiencing exactly what she wants at the end of track season.

"It was definitely a great feeling to be on top the podium last year, and to be up there again is definitely a goal of mine," she said.

 

Click Here for the story from the Post-Tribunehttp://www.post-trib.com/sports/highschools/2146570,trk-bliss-0408.article