Positive Impact
Beyond the stats.
That's what the UPMC Positive Athlete Award is all about and Tori Radvan fits the bill.
The recent Freeport High School graduate was notified Wednesday that she was one of this year's recipients of the award, which recognizes athletes who have overcome difficult circumstances, given back to their schools and communities or have an infectious positive attitude. The honor brought with it a $1,000 scholarship.
“I'm really excited about this. I'm glad to see my hard work pay off,” said Radvan.
It's not that Radvan did not put up impressive numbers during her high school career. She played a key role in Freeport's back row her sophomore year when the Yellowjackets' volleyball team won a state title. As a junior pitcher on the softball team, she was 8-3 with 72 strikeouts and led the squad in batting average (.644) and home runs (7).
But it was what happened in between that led to her recent recognition.
Radvan tore the ACL in her left knee at the start of her junior year and was forced to sit and watch the volleyball season from the bench.
“I had rehab three or four times per week, but I remained involved with the team as much as I could,” she said. “I went to most of the matches and it was really hard, wanting to play, but not being able to be out there.
“The rehab taught me that even when my body hurts, I can take it and push through it. I had a really good physical therapist and that helped.”
By the start of the softball season in 2019, Radvan was ready to get back to competition. She earned the win in the circle and added three hits at the plate in Freeport's first game against Armstrong.
“I wasn't completely back mentally going in, I was hesitant. But it took just that one game,” she said. “I was good after that.”
Jackets' softball coach Sam Ross nominated Radvan for the positive athlete honor.
“Everyone respected her, even when she was a freshman,” said Ross. “The way she approached competition, she provided quiet leadership and led by example. The way she came back from knee surgery, she definitely deserves this.”
Radvan had a strong return to the volleyball court last fall, helping Freeport to a WPIAL Class 2A title and a run to the state semifinals as an outside hitter.
“At first she was cautious, but we expected that to be the case,” said Freeport volleyball coach Tom Phillips. “It didn't take long until she found explosiveness in her game.”
Radvan was primed for a stellar senior campaign on the softball field when the coronavirus derailed the spring season.
“She pitched well as a junior, but I could see she was bigger and stronger this year,” said Ross. “All of her pitches were working well (in practice) and she would have dominated.”
Radvan, who will play softball at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, is currently playing for the Pittsburgh Predators, a travel team.
“Playing sports at Freeport was very memorable,” she said. “It was a great time.”
