Laura Tvrdik Notch, Minnewaska Area Class of 2007

When looking back at top student-athletes at Minnewaska Area High School during the first decade of the 2000s, near the top of the list you’ll find the name of Laura Tvrdik. The youngest of Doug and Theresa Tvrdik’s three daughters, she was one of the most gifted athletes in Laker sports history.

Having the luxury of growing up behind her two older sisters, Melissa and Stacy, she was able to learn much about her two favorite sports of volleyball and fastpitch softball by watching them excel on the court and diamond as high school athletes for the Lakers in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

In the fall, Laura would star for the Lakers for four seasons as a member of the volleyball team from 2003-2006. At six-feet tall, she was quick, rangy, and had amazing leaping ability which allowed her to cover the court exceptionally well as she developed into one of the best attacking hitters in Minnesota. 

When she left the court for the last time in the autumn of 2006, she was the most decorated volleyball player in Laker history. She was a four-time selection to the West Central All-Conference team, and a member of the West Central Tribune All-Area Team as a senior. She was also named All-State and Academic All-State as a senior. 

She held team records for ace blocks, ace serves, kills in a career, digs in a career, most ace serves in a match, most ace blocks in a match and most good hits in a match. Even now, 16 years after graduating from MAHS, she still holds school records in five different categories for blocks, kills and ace serves. 

The Lakers head volleyball coach during the era, Linda Mills, recently commented, “Laura was one of the most gifted athletes I had the opportunity to coach in volleyball. As a four-year varsity starter, not only was she a supremely talented player who understood the nuances of the game extremely well, but she was an outstanding leader. She was always positive and encouraging to her teammates and regarded each of them as a friend and equal. She was also very respectful of the coaching staff. Additionally, as great an athlete as she was, she was also one of the top students in the Class of 2007. Her drive to excel in the classroom was as important to her, if not more so, than anything she accomplished on the court. She is, without a doubt, one of the top student-athletes that Minnewaska Area High School has produced. Even today, when I run into Laura, she’s as nice and friendly as she was in high school. Just a wonderful person in every way!”

In the spring of the year, Laura’s sport was fastpitch softball. Playing for the legendary Steve Hoffmann, she excelled on the diamond as much as she did on the volleyball court. During her four-year varsity career as a strong-armed second basemen and shortstop, she had perhaps the greatest range of any infielder in Laker history. 

With her height and speed, she could not only get to ground balls with ease, but could make great plays with her leaping ability in catching screaming line drives that were destined to be base hits. She was also a tremendous hitter and a very difficult out at the plate as she could hit for power as well as average. 

In a recent conversation regarding Laura, Steve Hoffmann said, “Laura made everybody a better player and changed the dynamics of the game whether at the plate or in the field. She was a game changer for sure, and one of the top infielders and hitters I had the opportunity to coach. The way she played the game gave everyone more confidence. She was also a great leader, whether in the dugout or on the field. She kept everyone positive.”

When her softball career came to a close in the spring of 2007, Laura had earned numerous accolades. Included in those were three conference championships and four-straight years of being named WCC All-Conference. This included being named the conference MVP in 2006. She was also named All-State and participated in the State All-Star softball game after her senior year. Today, she is still in the top ten in ten statistical career categories and holds the top spot for extra-base hits and RBI.

From Laura’s perspective, she recently noted, “Watching my two older sisters sparked the competitive spirit in me at a young age to do my best to excel. My parents were also very supportive and drove many miles over the years to cheer on me and my teammates. Being a student-athlete at MAHS helped shape and grow me for the future. I was always looking for ways to better my skills both athletically and academically. The coaches and teachers I had showed wonderful support and dedication, and helped me develop not only skills needed on the court and field, but skills needed for life.”

Following graduation, Laura went on to earn a degree in Exercise Science from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. While at MSUM she also participated in volleyball where she had an outstanding career earning all-conference honors in the NSIC as a sophomore, junior and senior. She furthered her studies attaining a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota.

Today, Laura, her husband Tyler, and children, Ellie (age 7), Adelyn (5) and Brooks (1 1/2) live in the Alexandria area where Laura works for Evolent as an Initial Clinical Reviewer.

Congratulations to Laura Tvrdik Notch, 2023 Minnewaska Area Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee!