No obstacle too high
Wall of Famer Julianne Miszk never allowed limitations restrict her in pool, on track
Julianne Miszk is being inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame for outstanding achievement in cross-country running, swimming and track and field.
But the 19-year-old would never have laced on her running shoes or jumped into the pool had she not first been a gold medallist in not taking “no” for an answer.
Though born with cognitive and physical disabilities, Miszk did not let these challenges doom her to a life on the sidelines when it came to competitive sports.
The lifelong Niagara Falls resident has become an accomplished para-athlete over the years, competing and winning at the highest level. Miszk’s dedication, determination and steadfast refusal to let limitations define her has inspired everyone who has come to know her.
While school was always a challenge for Miszk, she did not allow these difficulties prevent her from becoming an athlete. She developed a love for swimming as well as for running.
She competed in swimming, cross-country and track and field at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) championships in her first year at St. Michael Catholic High School.
Beginner’s luck?
Hardly. Miszk became a seventime OFSAA para-athletic champion over the course of her high school career.
Her success hasn’t been limited to provincial competitions. Three years ago, when she was named Niagara Para-athlete of the Year, she won a silver medal in the 800 metre at the Canadian national championships in Edmonton.
Her tenacity to overcome obstacles was especially inspiring the following year when she won a silver medal at OFSAA after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatments.
Miszk is one of two individuals from the present era – 1991 and later – whose athletic accomplishments will be recognized at an induction ceremony this Sunday in Niagara Falls.
Michelle Edgar started playing ball hockey with her brother in their parents’ driveway about the time she learned to walk.
Edgar kept the stick in her hands ever since. By 2007, when she turned 25, she was competing at the Ontario championships and went to nationals the following year.
She won a gold medal playing ball hockey for Team Canada at the 2009 world championships in the Czech Republic.
Edgar also excelled in ice hockey, playing for five seasons at Brock University and competing for three years in a professional league.
An all-around athlete for all seasons, Edgar played semi-pro soccer was captain of the Hamilton Lady Avalanche.
In all, seven individuals, one posthumously, will receive induction into Niagara Falls’ sports shrine in a ceremony taking place 2 p.m. Sunday at Gale Centre.
Hockey player John Arbour, who won championships in three leagues, including a Memorial Cup with the Niagara Falls Flyers in 1966, basketball and soccer standout Jack (John) Hall and Charlie Wray, for sports fishing, will see their names go on the wall as athletes from the pre1991 era.
Phil Mazzone, for basketball and hockey, and the late Grace Sunstrum, for minor baseball, will be inducted as builders.
This year’s induction class brings the total number of athletes and teams enshrined since the wall of fame’s establishment in 1988 to 313. bfranke@postmedia.com