Induction 2011 - Athlete
Competitive Figure Skater 1991-1999
Represented Alberta at the Western Canadian and National
Championships
Member of Canadian National
Junior Team 1994 & 1995
Represented Canada at the 1997 World Universiade Games
Sacrifices to Pursue Excellence in Chosen Sport
Sheila
Friesen was born in Wetaskiwin and when she was four years
old her parents enrolled her in the CanSkate program
organized by the Wetaskiwin Figure Skating Club. By the age
of seven Sheila had completed all of the CanSkate levels and
because she showed an interest and aptitude in the sport
she moved on to training to compete as a singles skater.
It became apparent that Sheila had the ability, focus and
determination to excel in her chosen sport and that she
did. Sheila’s dedication and countless hours of practice
enabled her to reach figure skating's elite level where she
represented her city, province and country by competing at
national and international level competitions.
For her first year of private
lessons when she was seven, Sheila traveled to Leduc. The
next three years she traveled back and forth from Wetaskiwin
to Edmonton. In order to pursue her dream and train the
number of hours required, when Sheila was eleven, she, her
mom and her sister moved to Edmonton so that Sheila could
train at the Royal Glenora club. Sheila completed her
schooling and then attended University in Edmonton, all the
while training as a competitive figure skater.
Sheila’s dedication and countless hours
of practice
enabled her to reach figure slatings' elite level
Sheila slowly moved up the
ranks in the figure skating world. She first qualified for
Provincials at the age of nine and competed at the Juvenile
Ladies level placing last. Sheila used the results as a
learning experience and the following year when she moved up
a level to Pre-Novice Ladies she placed eighth in the
province. In 1990 when the Provincials were held in
Wetaskiwin Sheila placed 5th in Novice Ladies. The next
year Sheila earned a silver medal at the Provincials and her
first trip to Western Divisional Championships where she
placed 5th. That same year Sheila made the Alberta Team for
the 1991 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown PEI. In 1992
Sheila moved up to Junior Ladies and she made it to
Provincials and the Western Divisional Championships, a feat
repeated in 1993.
Sheila's Break-Through Year
In 1994 Sheila had her
break-through year; she came second at Provincials, but won
the Western Divisional Championships and came fourth at the
Canadian Championships held in Edmonton. Her performances
earned her a spot on the Canadian Junior National Team. In
1995 Sheila moved up to Senior Ladies, the highest
competitive level and as a first-year Senior skater, she
continued on the Canadian Junior National Team. From 1995
to 1999 when she retired from figure skating, Sheila had
consistent medal-winning skates at the Western Divisional
championships and top-ten finishes at the Canadian
Championships.
In 1997 Sheila was chosen to
represent Canada at the World Winter Universiade Games in
South Korea where she placed fifth. She had the honour of
being chosen by the Canadian Team to carry the Canadian flag
in the Closing Ceremonies.
In addition to competing,
Sheila performed at ice shows both nationally and
internationally. She received the Canadian Junior National
Team Scholarship in 1995, the 1995 Petro-Canada Olympic
Torch Scholarship and in 1997, the Award of Excellence at
the Royal Glenora Club President’s Ball.
Selected to Become Elite Figure Skating Judge
Sheila has remained connected
to her favourite sport. She was selected to be a part of an
elite team of former high level competitive skaters that
were trained to become figure skating judges. She has
judged at the Junior National level as well as at an
international event in 2004. When she moved to Fort
McMurray in 2002, she continued judging tests for local
figure skaters and has done so every year since. After a
short interlude away from competition judging, Sheila became
involved again in 2010. She judged some summer competitions
and later the Provincials, both in Fort Mc Murray.
Sheila’s accomplishments in
figure skating are a result of her many years of dedicated
practice, her ability and her desire. She is a fine example
for young athletes of how you can reach your goals through
your efforts. It is because of her outstanding
achievements in figure skating that Sheila is being inducted
into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.