Portage High School Class of 2011 graduate Tori Bliss wasted no time in making a difference at the collegiate level. After starring as a three sport athlete at PHS, Bliss is attending Louisiana State University on a full track and field scholarship to major in kinesiology.
As a freshman, Bliss has made an immediate impact on the women’s track and field team. On Jan. 21 she won the women’s shot put with a personal record of 50 feet, 11.5 inches. The toss ranks fifth in LSU history.
“The biggest thing for me is adjusting to the higher level of both track and school work,” Bliss said.
Bliss returned to her alma mater over holiday break and was honored on the court before a girls basketball game.
“It was great to come back and be honored. It’s great to see that my accolades are appreciated,” she said.
During her time at Portage, Bliss excelled in every spot that she played. She led the lady-Indians basketball team to the sectional championship game her senior season. That same year she entered the record books by breaking the school record for points scored in a single game, scoring 43 in November against Merrillville.
Bliss was also a solid goal keeper for the varsity soccer team during her junior and senior seasons. However, it was the track where she stood out the most, breaking school records and piling up various awards and honors throughout her career. She won two national titles in the shot put, three state titles in the shot and another one in the discus. Perhaps her most prestigious honors were being named the 2011 Indiana Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year and a recipient of the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award. The latter award is presented annually to the senior who exemplifies mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
During her time at Portage, Bliss had the privilege of developing under the tutelage of many different coaches.
“There were many that had an impact on me. All of my coaches were very supportive throughout my career at PHS,” she said.
Although she misses her family and friends in Northwest Indiana, Bliss has enjoyed every minute of the college experience.
“The atmosphere here is great; we’re all adults and we get treated like adults. The expectations of us as student-athletes are high and we’re expected to represent LSU to the best of our ability,” she said.
With her freshman season just underway, Bliss has already taken a large role on the women’s track and field team at one of the nation’s premier athletic universities. With Bliss focusing only on throwing and studying in college she has already made strides and she has the potential to continue to improve by the time she departs from LSU.