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Student Spotlight: Laidlaw Gymnast is a National Top-Scorer

Torie Stotz talks about her top scores in the nation for the all-around event at State and how she got there.

Just looking at Victoria "Torie" Stotz, you can tell she's an athlete. Her stature and posture get one wondering what a Laidlaw Elementary 11-year old can do to stay so fit.

The answer is 16-hour weeks of gynmastics.

Having overcome idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a disease of the blood, Stotz has high hopes for her future as a gymnast, and an army of family, coaches and teammates helping her achieve her goals.

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Patch: What are your recent accomplishments?

Torie Stotz: "At state, I got one of the best scores in the nation on all-around, a 39.5. On vault, I got a 9.9. Almost a ten! On beam, I got about 9.75, on bars, 9.65. On floor, I got 9.727."

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Where are those taking you?

"My whole level was invited because we won state, and all 50 states will be there to compete June 4th."

What was it like?

"My favorite part was when everyone came up to me and were like "Holy cow, you guys were awesome!" I did't even know half of the people!"

Looks like you've got some fans.

"It was mostly girls from other teams and random parents. It was pretty funny."

What originally got you started on gymnastics? 

"When Mackenzie [my sister] was at IGI [Illinois Gymnastics Institute], they asked if I was in gymnastics. I told them no, and they asked me to do basic stuff like touch my toes. And they said I needed to get into gymnastics! So I started there, and moved with my sister to BIG [Balance Institute of Gymnastics]."

I know you have a huge family. How have they influenced you?

"My mom did gymnastics, and she was really good. Mackenzie was really good too, and they got me into it and kept me really motivated."

How has your illness affected gymnastics?

"It just makes me think about being safe and not doing things I shouldn't. I always want to be doing better now that I can push myself to do my best."

I'm assuming you're close with your team?

"I'm really close to the coaches, I can tell them anything. I have so many friends there."

Gymnastics is notorious for being grueling. Is it worth it?

"Worth it? Well... yes. All of my hard work went to good use in the end at state."

Do you have any future plans? The Olympics?

"(Laughs.) I just finished level 7, so my goal is to get to level 8 and keep on going from that. I want to do floor and vault in college because they're my favorite events."

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