Tori Vidales Q&A
Sep 17, 2019 | Softball
Fresh off of helping Mexico to its first-ever softball appearance in the Olympics, Tori Vidales stopped by 12th Man Productions to talk softball, her A&M career and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her.
SR: Has it sunk in that Team Mexico softball is going to the Olympics for the first time ever?
TV: "Not really. It's crazy to think it was just a few weeks ago. Everyone is reaching out to congratulate me. You feel like you accomplished something, but something as big as the Olympics, it really hasn't set in yet. I don't know when it will hit me. I'm sure I'll be sitting in my room someday, and I'll realize the magnitude of it. It's just a cool feeling to know that it's a feat that not many athletes will ever have the chance to do. It's been a really exciting few weeks and a really cool summer."
SR: Where does this rank in your athletic career, or do you have to wait until after to decide?
TV: "I'd probably have to wait until after the experience, but I always said that I'd trade any personal accolades for a national championship or an Olympic journey. At the end of the day, it's not about me. I can't pitch the game or catch the game. I can't do all of it. It's about how we mesh together, how well we play together and how we lean on each other. It's never about just one person. We're all talented individuals, but all that matters is how we play together."
SR: Was there a specific point when you all knew the Olympics were well within reach?
TV: "It was a little bit weird because of how the tournament was set up. You play your pool round, and you have to finish in the top three to advance to the super rounds. We finished first in our side of the bracket. We went into super round having to play Puerto Rico the very first game, and that was the game for us. It's always been back and forth between us with a lot of games that went down to the wire. We beat them 2-0, and that was the time we felt like we were going to the Olympics even though we had one more game to win. We didn't have a ton of energy going into the game against Canada the second day, but we ended up pulling that one out. After the Canada game, it really hit us. The photographers were taking pictures of us celebrating. There were a lot of happy tears, but we were trying not to cry too much since it was so exciting. Getting to go into the stands to hug our parents was very emotional. I remember hugging my mom and just thinking that everything finally paid off. Every sacrifice that was made because of dedicating our lives to softball was repaid in full."
SR: So much excitement with the result, but this wasn't an easy summer. Can you take us behind the scenes of how much of a challenge this was for multiple months?
TV: "It was a long summer. Team Mexico partnered with the Cleveland Comets of the NPF. We played from June 5th until our last game on August 12th. Pretty much every day between those two dates was spent in a hotel. It was something like 86 days in a hotel over the summer. It's not just being in a hotel, but you're far away from your family, friends, environment and routine. You have to create a whole new routine to help get you through each day and be prepared for each game. We mostly played one game a day late in the day, so there was a lot of sleep during the days since we were so drained. The hardest part was eating. You have to stay healthy, but it's hard to cook and shop when you're moving every four or five days."
SR: Where was your favorite place to be this summer?
TV: "Honestly, we were based out of Cleveland and had so much fun there. We had a couple of off days in late July. We went to Cedar Point amusement park, got there when the park opened and stayed until they shut the park down. We got to go to a Cleveland Indians game. Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar actually came to one of our games and became a fan of our team. He got us all tickets to the Indians game and even rented out a suite on the ground level of the stadium. It was an incredible time. It was a great couple of days to get our minds off of softball for a bit."
SR: After the craziness of the summer, do you have any time now to catch your breath?
TV: "I certainly want to enjoy some time, but there has already been some talk about a possible spring tour. We've been invited to a few places to play against other national teams to help prep for the Olympics. There's also a chance that we could go early to get used to the time change, heat and everything else. It's very hot there during summer. I'd say even hotter than here. It's hard to top Texas heat in the summer, but Japan gets pretty hot. It was sweltering last summer, plus the fields are turf. You definitely have to get used to things. But right now, nothing is set in stone. I'm just training, doing lessons and trying to keep my mind sharp for the game. Hopefully I can hop into a few practices with Coach Evans and her team, as well."
SR: What does it mean for you to have a place like this to come back to for training, as well as the support you have from Coach Evans and her staff here with Aggie Softball?
TV: "It's just amazing to be at a place that supports you. There are a lot of things for me to do here. I can give lessons, and those young people would be more likely to know about me here. I wore the jersey for four years. People can drive down the road and see the same logo and team name on Kyle Field. That is so cool for young girls to see that and want to be like us. It also hopefully makes them want to play at Texas A&M.
For me, it's awesome to know that Coach Evans is still 100% behind me. She texted me right after we qualified, said she was so proud of me and offered to do anything to help me prepare. She just wanted to let me know that she's in my corner and loves me. I was thinking about that on the way home after qualifying. Coach Evans has been such a huge part of my journey, and I'm so thankful that it wasn't just four years and done. She's a huge part of my everyday life. I think all the time about what she and Texas A&M have done for me. I would not be in the position I'm in without A&M or Coach Evans. She always supports me and reminds me that A&M is always home for me, and that's something I can never repay her for. Coach Evans will be a huge part of my life for the rest of my life, and I love her."
SR: You haven't been away from A&M for long, but what are your thoughts about the legacy you left here in Aggieland?
TV: "The biggest thing I reflect on is that I made the decision to come to A&M when I was 14 years old, so I made that decision before I even had my driver's permit. That's a very big decision at a young age. I pat myself on the back sometimes, because I made the right choice. I made a choice that would benefit me during my college years and well beyond. Coach Evans' motto was always to leave our legacy. We didn't want to be that team just on the field. We wanted to be that group off the field that people wanted to connect to. We wanted little girls to look up to us. We wanted to be good people, teammates and classmates."
SR: You still have a softball career going, but what else is in the plans for your future?
TV: "I did get a start in broadcasting this past year. I was a softball analyst for SEC Network. I'm hoping that continues to be in my future. I definitely enjoy being on headset, behind a desk or on camera. I just enjoy sharing my knowledge of the game. Maybe at some point, I'll have a normal 9-5 job but still give softball lessons on the side. Maybe I'll be behind a desk analyzing upcoming softball matchups. As long as I'm spreading knowledge and passion for the game, that's enough for me."
SR: I have to ask about your 12th Man Productions experience. You had to balance a lot to make it work, but you did. How did your 12th Man P experience enhance your A&M career and life after college?
TV: "First of all, I would be nowhere without 12th Man Productions, because they gave me the foundation to be able to get a job with SEC Network as soon as I graduated. I get told that I'm so lucky to work at SEC Network. I don't feel it's luck. I worked hard and tried to do as much as possible while I was in school. I worked in 12th Man Productions for three years. The coolest thing for me was working on the football crew for a year. I did the wireless camera, and I also worked with volleyball and got to travel a pair of times with them. Working at 12th Man Productions gave me a more well-rounded resume. It wasn't just being on camera. It was getting a feel for so many of the other things that go into video and broadcast production. I love coming back and helping with anything you all have for me. I just love it. I feel like I'm in debt to all these people at A&M, in the community and the fans. My life would truly be so different without A&M, Aggie Softball and 12th Man Productions."
SR: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
TV: "To me it means family. Also, being part of the Mexican national team, we get told sometimes that we're the USA B Team. Yes, I live in the United States and was born here. My family is from Mexico and had a life there. They were able to come to the United States and make a better life for their family, their grandkids and great grandkids. They were able to give us a life that we couldn't thank them for, because they aren't around anymore. For me, that means giving back to them by honoring them, honoring our heritage and being a part of something so much greater. I am Hispanic and a part of the Mexican national team. I'm a part of history with us going to the Olympics for the first time in the history of softball. Mexico has never stepped on the field as an Olympic team, so for me this means playing for my family and giving back to the game. Now, little girls in Mexico can see a dream to work towards. If they want to go to the Olympics, they have a chance. We want to pave the way for girls behind us. The game isn't going to end when we stop playing. The game continues, and if we can give back to them and create better softball players by opening that lane for them to drive down, we're going to do that. To me, that means taking pride in where I come from."
TV: "Not really. It's crazy to think it was just a few weeks ago. Everyone is reaching out to congratulate me. You feel like you accomplished something, but something as big as the Olympics, it really hasn't set in yet. I don't know when it will hit me. I'm sure I'll be sitting in my room someday, and I'll realize the magnitude of it. It's just a cool feeling to know that it's a feat that not many athletes will ever have the chance to do. It's been a really exciting few weeks and a really cool summer."
SR: Where does this rank in your athletic career, or do you have to wait until after to decide?
TV: "I'd probably have to wait until after the experience, but I always said that I'd trade any personal accolades for a national championship or an Olympic journey. At the end of the day, it's not about me. I can't pitch the game or catch the game. I can't do all of it. It's about how we mesh together, how well we play together and how we lean on each other. It's never about just one person. We're all talented individuals, but all that matters is how we play together."
SR: Was there a specific point when you all knew the Olympics were well within reach?
TV: "It was a little bit weird because of how the tournament was set up. You play your pool round, and you have to finish in the top three to advance to the super rounds. We finished first in our side of the bracket. We went into super round having to play Puerto Rico the very first game, and that was the game for us. It's always been back and forth between us with a lot of games that went down to the wire. We beat them 2-0, and that was the time we felt like we were going to the Olympics even though we had one more game to win. We didn't have a ton of energy going into the game against Canada the second day, but we ended up pulling that one out. After the Canada game, it really hit us. The photographers were taking pictures of us celebrating. There were a lot of happy tears, but we were trying not to cry too much since it was so exciting. Getting to go into the stands to hug our parents was very emotional. I remember hugging my mom and just thinking that everything finally paid off. Every sacrifice that was made because of dedicating our lives to softball was repaid in full."
SR: So much excitement with the result, but this wasn't an easy summer. Can you take us behind the scenes of how much of a challenge this was for multiple months?
TV: "It was a long summer. Team Mexico partnered with the Cleveland Comets of the NPF. We played from June 5th until our last game on August 12th. Pretty much every day between those two dates was spent in a hotel. It was something like 86 days in a hotel over the summer. It's not just being in a hotel, but you're far away from your family, friends, environment and routine. You have to create a whole new routine to help get you through each day and be prepared for each game. We mostly played one game a day late in the day, so there was a lot of sleep during the days since we were so drained. The hardest part was eating. You have to stay healthy, but it's hard to cook and shop when you're moving every four or five days."
SR: Where was your favorite place to be this summer?
TV: "Honestly, we were based out of Cleveland and had so much fun there. We had a couple of off days in late July. We went to Cedar Point amusement park, got there when the park opened and stayed until they shut the park down. We got to go to a Cleveland Indians game. Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar actually came to one of our games and became a fan of our team. He got us all tickets to the Indians game and even rented out a suite on the ground level of the stadium. It was an incredible time. It was a great couple of days to get our minds off of softball for a bit."
SR: After the craziness of the summer, do you have any time now to catch your breath?
TV: "I certainly want to enjoy some time, but there has already been some talk about a possible spring tour. We've been invited to a few places to play against other national teams to help prep for the Olympics. There's also a chance that we could go early to get used to the time change, heat and everything else. It's very hot there during summer. I'd say even hotter than here. It's hard to top Texas heat in the summer, but Japan gets pretty hot. It was sweltering last summer, plus the fields are turf. You definitely have to get used to things. But right now, nothing is set in stone. I'm just training, doing lessons and trying to keep my mind sharp for the game. Hopefully I can hop into a few practices with Coach Evans and her team, as well."
SR: What does it mean for you to have a place like this to come back to for training, as well as the support you have from Coach Evans and her staff here with Aggie Softball?
TV: "It's just amazing to be at a place that supports you. There are a lot of things for me to do here. I can give lessons, and those young people would be more likely to know about me here. I wore the jersey for four years. People can drive down the road and see the same logo and team name on Kyle Field. That is so cool for young girls to see that and want to be like us. It also hopefully makes them want to play at Texas A&M.
For me, it's awesome to know that Coach Evans is still 100% behind me. She texted me right after we qualified, said she was so proud of me and offered to do anything to help me prepare. She just wanted to let me know that she's in my corner and loves me. I was thinking about that on the way home after qualifying. Coach Evans has been such a huge part of my journey, and I'm so thankful that it wasn't just four years and done. She's a huge part of my everyday life. I think all the time about what she and Texas A&M have done for me. I would not be in the position I'm in without A&M or Coach Evans. She always supports me and reminds me that A&M is always home for me, and that's something I can never repay her for. Coach Evans will be a huge part of my life for the rest of my life, and I love her."
SR: You haven't been away from A&M for long, but what are your thoughts about the legacy you left here in Aggieland?
TV: "The biggest thing I reflect on is that I made the decision to come to A&M when I was 14 years old, so I made that decision before I even had my driver's permit. That's a very big decision at a young age. I pat myself on the back sometimes, because I made the right choice. I made a choice that would benefit me during my college years and well beyond. Coach Evans' motto was always to leave our legacy. We didn't want to be that team just on the field. We wanted to be that group off the field that people wanted to connect to. We wanted little girls to look up to us. We wanted to be good people, teammates and classmates."
SR: You still have a softball career going, but what else is in the plans for your future?
TV: "I did get a start in broadcasting this past year. I was a softball analyst for SEC Network. I'm hoping that continues to be in my future. I definitely enjoy being on headset, behind a desk or on camera. I just enjoy sharing my knowledge of the game. Maybe at some point, I'll have a normal 9-5 job but still give softball lessons on the side. Maybe I'll be behind a desk analyzing upcoming softball matchups. As long as I'm spreading knowledge and passion for the game, that's enough for me."
SR: I have to ask about your 12th Man Productions experience. You had to balance a lot to make it work, but you did. How did your 12th Man P experience enhance your A&M career and life after college?
TV: "First of all, I would be nowhere without 12th Man Productions, because they gave me the foundation to be able to get a job with SEC Network as soon as I graduated. I get told that I'm so lucky to work at SEC Network. I don't feel it's luck. I worked hard and tried to do as much as possible while I was in school. I worked in 12th Man Productions for three years. The coolest thing for me was working on the football crew for a year. I did the wireless camera, and I also worked with volleyball and got to travel a pair of times with them. Working at 12th Man Productions gave me a more well-rounded resume. It wasn't just being on camera. It was getting a feel for so many of the other things that go into video and broadcast production. I love coming back and helping with anything you all have for me. I just love it. I feel like I'm in debt to all these people at A&M, in the community and the fans. My life would truly be so different without A&M, Aggie Softball and 12th Man Productions."
SR: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
TV: "To me it means family. Also, being part of the Mexican national team, we get told sometimes that we're the USA B Team. Yes, I live in the United States and was born here. My family is from Mexico and had a life there. They were able to come to the United States and make a better life for their family, their grandkids and great grandkids. They were able to give us a life that we couldn't thank them for, because they aren't around anymore. For me, that means giving back to them by honoring them, honoring our heritage and being a part of something so much greater. I am Hispanic and a part of the Mexican national team. I'm a part of history with us going to the Olympics for the first time in the history of softball. Mexico has never stepped on the field as an Olympic team, so for me this means playing for my family and giving back to the game. Now, little girls in Mexico can see a dream to work towards. If they want to go to the Olympics, they have a chance. We want to pave the way for girls behind us. The game isn't going to end when we stop playing. The game continues, and if we can give back to them and create better softball players by opening that lane for them to drive down, we're going to do that. To me, that means taking pride in where I come from."
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