There is a lot of talent walking the halls ofChapinHigh School.  One student in particular really stands out.  Sophomore Victoria Blake is a nationally ranked hockey player in her age group.  She was handpicked to be one of the few female players to attend a national hockey camp only the top players in the country get to attend.

“Victoriais a great hockey player, she shows a lot of toughness and shows that she can easily compete with any guy out their,” said teammate Rob Willm.

Blake has been playing hockey for ten years.

“I first started playing hockey when I was little because both of my best friends were playing so I wanted to play with them. A lot of people are real surprised when they hear that I play hockey because there are not that many girls that play hockey, especially inSouth Carolina,” said Blake

Victoriaplays for two different hockey teams.  She plays for an all girls team up inPittsburgh, which takes about nine hours in travel time- one-way. She does this every other weekend for games and practices.   Then, she plays on an all boys team here for the high school.

“ It’s much more physical playing on the all boys team, but I’m well taken care of because I get treated like a lady and  if someone does hit me, my teammates will make sure it doesn’t happen again,” states Blake.

Blake is constantly playing hockey. Weekends she is not inPittsburghshe is in Chapin playing in tournaments with the high school team.

Victoriais very interested in playing college hockey at any school up north, particularly Yale or Harvard.

Off the ice, Blake knows that her grades have to be good in order for her to make an Ivy League team.  She has a 3.5 G.P.A. and doesn’t let the long weekends away keep her from doing well in school.

“Academics are important to me. They will play a big part in where I go from here,” said Blake.

While she has been interviewed for WLTX and other media outlets, Blake doesn’t play hockey just for the celebrity of being a female hockey player.

“My favorite part about playing hockey is the adrenaline rush you get and also I really just enjoy playing with my best friends,” adds Blake.