BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The 2004 high school sports scene in Sudbury
was as strong as ever.
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DESPITE PREDICTIONS she wouldn't
walk properly again, Sarrah Day won a gold medal at
OFSSA. |
As always, schools vied for city supremacy,
and went onto to challenge the rest of the province in NOSSA
and OFSSA events, with great results.
There were also numerous personal
achievements that put a human face on the challenges and
tribulations these kids face on a daily basis.
Although there were many success stories
throughout the year, none were bigger than the rollercoaster
ride that Chelmsford High School student Sarrah Day faced and
overcame.
In the summer of 2003, Sarrah injured her leg
in a wakeboard accident. It was found the main artery in her
leg had collapsed. Doctors insisted they
would have to amputate her leg.
Instead, a revolutionary surgery saw local
vascular surgeon Dr. John Fenton rebuild the artery out of
veins from Sarrah's leg, which were grafted into her leg.
Doctors were convinced Sarrah would never
walk normally again, yet alone compete in the gruelling world
of gymnastics.
But Sarrah ignored the prognosis, and she
virtually fought to get back into gymnastics.
By November of 2003, Sarrah was back on the
mat competing.
She made her way into the NOSSA event in
early 2004 and set a new record for the vault while winning the
gold medal.
Sarrah, 17, then won a gold medal at the
OFSSA competition in the Level Four floor event, beating out 27
other gymnasts.
For the rest of her life, Sarrah will visit a
doctor every six months for ultrasound therapy to monitor the
graft.
As always there were champions crowned across
the city in a variety of sports from hockey to curling to
basketball.
Dave Makela, Rainbow District School Board
athletic administrator, tipped his hat to the efforts put forth
by students, coaches and supporters during the 2004 year.
"The year 2004 was trying and successful at
the same time," said Makela. "Even though enrolment is down,
participation is steady. It tells me there are still
opportunities being extended to the students. I am amazed at
the level of commitment put forth by the students and coaches
and conveners.
We do well relative to our population.
Winning OFSSA events are rare, but Sudbury teams are always
competitive against the juggernauts of southern Ontario.
Sudbury can take a lot of pride in the way they represent our
city at the championships."
Makela was most impressed with the spirited
group of boys junior and senior volleyball teams at Champlain,
the football scene and play of senior girls basketball
teams.
"Champlain has 370 kids and they won both the
junior and senior boys city championships," said Makela. "Then
they swept NOSSA. We sent a representative to the NOSSA
championship in football for the first time in 10 years, and
Lockerby won their first city title in 25 years. The way the
rules were written in senior girls basketball, there were only
two teams in Division I, Lasalle and Lockerby. Because they
just played each other all season, the common feeling was it
would hurt them at NOSSA and OFSSA. It didn't. They rose above
it. Lasalle finished fourth at 'AAA' OFSSA and Lockerby
finished in the top eight at the 'AA' provincials."
2005 will also have its share of excitement,
as Sudbury will be host to two OFSSA events.
The 'A' girls volleyball tournament will be
held here from March 7-9, and the boys 'A' soccer championships
will be held in the Valley from June 2-4.
