Mary Ayotte-Law (born September 21, 1959) did not start competing in gymnastics until the 8th grade in Gresham. She found a community at Gresham Gymnastics Club and Gresham High School where was student body president and an OSAA champion.
Then known as Mary Ayotte, she chose Oregon State to pursue a teaching career and because of the leadership of the gymnastics program under Ron Ludwig. From 1979-82, Ayotte would re-write the record books and accumulate more hardware than any other Beaver gymnast up to that time. College life also meant frisbee golf and a chance to indulge in her love of Tootsie Rolls.
Oregon State women's teams were competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletes for Women when Mary enrolled. She was skilled at all four implements, first reaching the AIAW finals in floor exercise in 1980, then floor, beam and all-around in 1981, a year she won seven All-America honors. She dominated the Western Regionals, winning four events both years.
Her senior year, 1982, was the year of the NCAA full takeover of women’s college athletics and a newly married Ayotte-Law won the national title on the floor and third place in the all-around. She was the second Beaver to win a national championship.
While still at OSU, Ayotte was the top all-around competitor for Team USA at the 1981 World University Games in Romania, competing against the likes of Nadia Comaneci and other Olympians.
Mary was the 1982 recipient of the American Award, which honors the nation’s top senior gymnast. She was named her team's outstanding gymnast three times.
Following graduation, she began teaching and earned her masters degree while raising a family. She has taught physical activity classes at OSU and was the floor manager for OSU home meets for decades. Mary also has taught gymnastics, dance and cheerleading to kids in Corvallis.
Mary Ayotte-Law was inducted into the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.