Platte Valley’s Leeandra Natotschi — life forever changed by sledding crash — displays resilience at CHSAA state track meet

LAKEWOOD When a devastating sledding crash took away Leeandra Natotschi s ability to walk the Platte Valley athlete chose hope and happiness It wasn t an outlook that came this instant to Natotschi a junior at Platte Valley in Kersey when she was paralyzed from the mid-chest down in January But by the time her three-month hospital stint ended she made a decision She was going to live her new life in a wheelchair to the fullest This school year she became the manager for Broncos softball and basketball teams sports she played before her spinal cord injury Then came a leap of faith this spring when she started throwing shot put and discus for the Broncos track unit a new endeavor that culminated at the CHSAA state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium on Friday The thing that sticks out to me is her resilience Platte Valley athletic director Travis Stinar stated She could ve just folded and decided that she didn t want to be involved in anything She could ve pulled back pulled away from things she loves and the neighborhood But she s taken everything in stride For a young woman to be able to have the perspective that she has and to be dealt that challenge she hasn t let that define her She s defined herself and she s become a role model for everybody in our school Platte Valley High School junior paralympic athlete Leeandra Natotschi right talks with friends and fellow athletes from left Terrah Fitzsimmons Mia Koffler and Hayden Hanes before her shot put competition at the State Track and Field Championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood Colorado on Friday May Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post Natotschi threw feet inches in the mixed Special Olympic Paralympic shot put around midday on Friday then threw feet inches in the late afternoon in the mixed Special Olympic Paralympic discus Those marks placed her second among female athletes in the shot put and first in the discus amid an overall state meet performance that underscored Natotschi s refusal to dwell on the snow-day accident that changed her life Natotschi was riding an inner tube being towed by an off-road wagon when she slammed into a wooden post that day The crash split open her skull leaving a scar that runs from her left eyebrow up to the back of her head after doctors used staples to mend it back together She also suffered four fractures in her spine four fractured ribs and a broken nose With those injuries now healed her focus on Friday was the equipment in her hand and as she emphasized her family cheering her on About the third month in the hospital I started to be more positive about my situation thinking that it could ve been worse and there are people that have it worse than I do Natotschi disclosed You unfailingly have to look for the positives in what you do have rather than what you don t have As long as I still have my family in my corner I have pretty much everything And I m still able to do things I love and appreciate just now in a different way And maybe by showing people that I won t let being in a wheelchair stop me I ll influence others who might be in a similar situation Related Articles Colorado state track notebook Class A girls final racked with disqualifications but sportsmanship prevails Big day for The Bens Mountain Vista duo goes - in while ThunderRidge star goes back-to-back in Colorado state track meet Day Live results from Jeffco Stadium Colorado state track Utah football commit Soren Shinofield cruises to shot put title Cherokee Trail triple jumper Kaeli Powe carries on legacy started by record-setting mom Natotschi s peers coaches and teachers say she s been doing just that since the day she returned to school last spring Her throwing teammate senior Amalia Ikenouye commented Natotschi s ever-increasing personal records throughout the season made athletes around her more motivated to do better for themselves The Broncos track coach Julie Thomas pointed out how the junior brings an element of optimism to each practice and meet And Natotschi s PE mentor Shelbi Wagner who taught her in weight class both semesters this year recalled the awe she struck into her classmates when she pumped out consecutive push-ups and did multiple one-armed pull-ups at a time I ve watched her show other kids those feats and other kids then try to do what she can do Wagner stated That s been a really amazing thing because I don t know if she thought she could do that inspire people like she has But Natotschi didn t achieve that status or get to Jeffco Stadium alone Platte Valley High School coach Julie Thomas pushes junior paralympic athlete Leeandra Natotschi through traffic at the State Track and Field Championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood Colorado on Friday May Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post After her accident the neighborhood of Kersey rallied around her providing both emotional and financial encouragement Platte Valley held a poker night and silent auction to help her family with healthcare bills There were contests to raise cash at halftime of basketball games and the school s National Honor Society chapter held numerous fundraising events The WIN Foundation and the Moser Benefit also funded remodels of the house where she lives with her aunt and uncle Between the two entities the house had an elevator installed an accessible bathroom created and ramp added to the front door and the basement finished so Natotschi could have her own space With the society behind her Natotschi left the fear of her new life behind In a way she has a whole different personality from before the accident and it s made her stronger explained her aunt Roberta Dill To see her smile helps us as her family smile There s still days that it s tough because you re thinking Why did this happen to her But as long as she s radiating it gives us the strength to keep going and pushing her as well As a senior next year Natotschi plans on managing again for the softball and basketball teams and also returning to the track Further down the road she s dreaming bigger with the career goal of going into criminology or forensics or possibly becoming a trainer Whatever road she takes it ll be one filled with determination I m going to continue to stay positive keep moving forward and keep surrounding myself with a good assistance group Natotschi disclosed I ll keep looking for the best in things And if there s an obstacle I ll find another way around it Platte Valley High School junior Leeandra Natotschi prepares to throw during the Paralympic shot put competition at the State Track and Field Championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood Colorado on Friday May Photo by Andy Cross The Denver Post Want more sports news Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver s teams