Get to know Pascack Valley HS multi-sport athlete Tori Criscuolo
HILLSDALE, N.J. — Nowadays, many athletes focus on a single sport at younger and younger ages. Given travel teams, club teams, and year-round training, it is not uncommon for youth athletes to train year-round in a single sport. Not Tori Criscuolo: In many ways, Tori is a throwback. She is a 3-sport athlete at Pascack Valley Regional High School. And not only does she play soccer, basketball, and run for the track and field team, she excels at them all!
Soccer
During the fall, Tori can be found on the soccer field, playing center back/sweeper. She says, “I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. Growing up my parents put me in the Sunday morning recreational games (probably around 3 years old) and ever since then I’ve loved the sport. I started indoor soccer in second grade and then advanced to a year-round club travel team in 3rd grade.”
Tori has been named First Team All-League twice and Second Team All-County once. During the 2021-2022 season, her team made it to the state group finals, where they lost to Sparta.
When asked about the sport, Tori says, “Soccer is a beautiful game to watch and play, and it is really rewarding when your team puts a ball in the back of the net.”
Basketball
Tori started playing basketball a little later than she did soccer. She says, “Growing up only playing soccer, I didn’t understand why you would want to use your hands instead of your feet! However, in 5th grade I decided to try out for my town travel team and looking back, I’m grateful that I did.”
Tori plays power forward/center, but since she and her teammates are in constant motion, she and her teammates don’t necessarily have designated positions.
In basketball, she has earned First Team All-League and Second Team All-League.
Track and Field
Tori says, “Track was the last sport that I added to the mix. I joined our middle school spring track team in 6th grade. I started out as a sprinter, then quickly switched to long distance when someone challenged me to beat her in a mile race!” She runs in the 1600 meter (mile) and 800 meter (half mile). She also competes in high jump and the 4×400 meter relay when the team needs her.
In her sophomore year (2021 spring season), the 4×400 meter relay team qualified for group finals and this past spring the 4×400 meter relay team qualified for the Penn Relays.
Common Ground
Torie says, “I love being involved in all three sports. Not only do you get to meet a different group of people—all of which you share a common interest with—but when the work that the team has put in is displayed on the field, court, or track, is really beautiful to see.”
When it comes to soccer and basketball specifically, she loves how the games are so different from one another, yet so similar. She says, “Every season promises a different environment and a different style game.”
Although track is technically a team sport, it is much more individual. When it comes to the actual races, she says, “It’s just you and your thoughts while you are running. Not only is this a physically demanding sport; it is also mentally demanding. The work you put in will show when it comes to meets.”
Leading by Example
When asked about leadership, Tori says, “I know the word ‘leadership’ technically qualifies as a noun, but to me leadership is a verb, it’s an action. Being a leader is not just a title someone is given; they earn it and it’s what they do that makes them a leader. To be a leader, you have to help those around you and work to support them.”
She adds, “In everything I am involved in, I try to become a role model for other people. Throughout my high school experience, I have had previous seniors and people I have looked up to and aspired to be like. Going into my senior year, I wanted to embody the qualities that I saw in the seniors before me. Along with this, I aspire to keep a positive attitude and mindset going into any situation. I would say I have more of a “glass half full” outlook on life and I feel as though that this mindset is the best way to guide people.”
At School and Home
Even with her dedication to these sports, Tori still finds the time to excel in other areas at school. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society. She is also involved with the Zack Latteri Foundation and serves as the Spirit Liaison at Pascack Valley.
In addition, she volunteers as a mentor with the Pascack Valley Navigators and Voyagers Fall Soccer Program. She says, “As a mentor, I play soccer with either adults or children with special needs on Saturday mornings. We do warm-ups, drills, and play a modified scrimmage.” During the summers, she works as a lifeguard and Stony Brook Swim Club in nearby Hillsdale.
Tori enjoys spending time at home with her family, which includes Mom (Virginia), her older sisters (Gina and Nikki), and brother (Michael). She says, “I’m never too busy with sports or school to play with my dog!”
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