Freeman Succeeds On and Off the Golf Course Despite Adversity

by Julia Sorrells

Sumter, SC (12/01/2021) — The USC Sumter women's golf team returned to the course this fall after a hiatus due to COVID-19. The team of three players has been busy practicing and competing at multiple tournaments across the South.

One of the golfers is Victoria (Tori) Freeman, a freshman from McBee, South Carolina. Tori is a freshman and has been experiencing her first year as a student athlete like many others, however, Tori has a unique circumstance. While in utero, Tori had a stroke, and her entire left side was left atrophied. Growing up, she spent many hours in physical therapy, speech therapy and underwent several surgeries. Through strength and determination, Tori has overcome adversity and has successfully become a collegiate athlete.

In middle school, Tori began playing sports. At that time, the high school golf coach attended the same church as her family, and he convinced her to try golf for the first time. In the beginning, she golfed using only her right hand. She spent a lot of time learning the game and discovering new ways to swing the golf club effectively.

Tori says, "when I tried golf for the first time, I knew I wanted to continue and try to play in college." During her senior year of high school, her father started to research colleges in the area with a women's golf program. He came across USC Sumter and immediately emailed Coach Bret Watzka. Watzka then contacted Tori's high school coach, and by December of last year, Tori had officially signed to play golf at USC Sumter beginning in fall 2021.

Coach Watzka has greatly enjoyed having Tori on the team this year. When asked about her strengths, he says, "she plays golf primarily with her right side, but she doesn't let it affect her ability to keep the ball on the fairway. She is really determined, has a wonderful attitude, is hardworking and has a great sense of humor." During competition, Coach Watzka adds that his favorite thing about Tori is "she always focuses on her next shot."

"My favorite thing about golf is meeting new friends and having opportunities to spend time with teammates and travel with them to tournaments," Tori says. She feels her greatest strengths on the course are her short game and staying on the fairway all the way to the green.

Tori's goal is to obtain her associate degree from USC Sumter over the next two years and she would love to continue playing golf at a 4-year school in the future.

The women's golf team is currently recruiting for the spring 2022 season. Interested athletes should visit the prospective ants tab on the USC Sumter Athletics website, uscfireants.com. Currently, USC Sumter has nine teams that compete in Region 10 of the NJCAA including baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's golf, and volleyball. For schedules, rosters and more information on USC Sumter Athletics, visit uscfireants.com.

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