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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-7, Page 17.S POR TS Times -Advocate, September 7, 1994 Page 17 Local reaction to the Hall of Fame is positive St. Marys wins over 12 others for Baseball Hall of Fame By Fred Groves T -A staff EXETER - One of the greatest permanent sporting attractions will be built just a half an hour away from Exeter. It was recently announced that neighbouring St. Marys has been selected as the site of the new Ca- nadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. There were 12 other communities vying for the right to have the facil- ity in their midst, but on August 25 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, it was St. Marys getting the nod. Exeter has always been rich with baseball and local reaction to St. Marys being selected is very pos- itive. Albert Van Dyken, a long- time Exeter baseball coach said the Hall of Fame in St. Marys will now remind you of the American ver- sion. "It reminds you of Cooperstown, baseball roots are from a small area; said VanDyken who is the vice-president of the Western On- tario Baseball Association. "I think it's a good idea to bring It into a rural arca, that's where base- ball started," said Mark Russell an Exeter umpire. While there were 12 other pos- sible sites, St. Marys won out be- cause of a couple of main reasons. First, the hard work of it's or- ganizing committee, headed by St. Grasdahl brings home gold from junior nationals The young black belt has mastered two martial arts EXETER - She may be only 15, but Crediton res- ident Jo Dec Grasdahl now has two black belts in martial arts. Grasdahl recently won the gold medal at the Jur:- ior National Tae Kwon Do tournament held in To- ronto. Although she was in only one fight, getting to the competition was a major accomplishment in it- self. After taking part in karate for several years, she decided to switch to Tae Kwon Do and in March, received her black belt. "When I went to the club, I already knew how to do most of the kicks so I got my red belt. Mr. (Si) Visouvath worked with me and then I got my black belt." Training seven days a week to get her gold in the lightweight division (under 16) she wanted to take on the martial arts discipline because it is full con- tact. "1 worked really hard for it. I wanted to compete in full contact black belt." Winning in karate is based on accumulating the most points, Tae Kwon Do is somewhat more dan- gerous as it is full contact and there are no foot pro- tection gear used. Grasdahl also took part in the exhibition tourna- ment inTorontowhich saw her go -against members .of the visiting Chinnese Tai Pai team. There she won another gold medal. "I thought it was going to be hard. I was kind of nervous," she said. While Tae Kwon Do will be a medal sport at the 1996 Olympics, she has her sights on going to Aus- tralia in 2000. Jo Dee Grasdahl, left; shown here with her instructor Si Visouvath, recently won a gold medal at the junior nationals. Back to school with Medic Alert Sports Bracelet protection If your child is one of the many in Canada who has food or drug allergies, asthma or other "hidden" medical condi- tions, a new sports bracelet available from the Canadian Medic Alert Foundation can give you "hack to school" peace of mind. "I got mine with Calgary Flames red on the hand. It looks really great!" says Flames star Gary Roberts, a Medic Alert member. "Like I depend on my hockey gear for protection on the icc, my Medic Alert bracelet gives me a sense of security to know that in an emergency. health professionals or others trying to help me will find out I'm asthmatic and dependent on inhalers." Medic Alert's new sports bracelets come in four bright color combinations which appeal not only to children and young people, but to sports enthusiasts and other active adults. 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To learn more about ship call 1-800-668-1507 or the sports bracelet and member- 416-696-0267. Gearing up for the "Back to school" season with Gary Rob- erts, Calgary Flames, and new'Medlc-Alert sports bracelets. • • iI ,4 Zurich & Area Figure Skating Club;