The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 14, 2014 | 20 Olympic alternate Duffy Bosco verbally committed to Memphis at age 15 skates with local club continued from p.19 priority for me to get an education over playing professionally. If I get my education now, playing professionally later is always an option." A day before Charles Hamelin not that it wouldn't be sweet to Pittsburgh struggled to an 0-8-2 conference record won Olympic gold for Canada have the hardware someday!" and 1-11-4 overall mark last season, its inaugural in the short-track speed skating Duffy, 22, first became interest- campaign in the ACC. 1,500-metre event, Patrick Duffy ed in speed skating when he went won the hearts of the Oakville to watch his brother play hock- Coaching biggest factor in Bosco's decision Bosco has long been accustomed to doing things Speedsters. ey at the 2000 Ontario Winter quicker than most people. Duffy, an alternate on the Ca- Games in Sault Ste. Marie. Short When she was 11 years old, Bosco was already playnadian short-track team for this track speed skating was taking ing U13 soccer for the Oakville Hurricanes -- a team year's Games in Sochi, skated with place at the rink next door and that had won the Ontario Cup the previous season. members of the Oakville Speed the moment Duffy saw the skatDespite being two years younger than her teammates Skating Club Sunday during an ers, he knew he wanted to give it and opponents, Bosco was named the MVP at the RobOlympic-themed mini-meet at a try. Ultimately, he signed up at bie International Soccer Tournament. River Oaks Recreation Centre. the Oakville Speed Skating Club Playing up two age groups also got Bosco thinking The Oakville native, who was and has been burning up the ice about university scholarships earlier than her peers. in town for the weekend, skated ever since. She actually made her verbal commitment to Memwith his club teammates for three "Patrick's sheer talent, work phis nearly three years ago, when she was 15. hours and offered advice both on ethic, fearlessness, heart, and "The school had known about me for a while, I had and off the ice. diligent training has made him been in contact with the coach, and everyone around "I come back for the kids, hop- into an incredible speed skater," me was saying great things about the coach and the ing that I can somehow make an said Oakville Speed Skating Club program," said Bosco, now 17 and a high school stuimpact on them. As an older skat- president Mark O'Donnell. "It's dent at Loyola. "I went to check out the school and er, I believe setting an example for been a pleasure to watch him bereally loved it. It just felt like home." them to continue in the sport and come the skater he is today." Bosco said Tigers head coach Brooks Monaghan was keep having fun means everyClub members Izabella Zakatthe deciding factor as she also considered interest from thing," Duffy said. "If that impact siolo and Michael Borca were Syracuse, Louisville and West Virginia, among others. means that one day they make it named top skaters of the meet, Bosco first joined the Oakville Soccer Club at the to my position (or higher) and are each receiving a trophy and their age of four and played for several OSC rep teams over able to do the same, to me that names on a club plaque. the years, most recently for the U17 squad coached by leaves just as much of a legacy -- Sharon DeVellis, Dino Lopez. than an Olympic medal would -- Special to the Beaver For the past six months, she's trained with the Glen Shields FC 96 girls' team that had Don't miss these, and other great deals! Follow us: a total of 14 players receive U.S. scholarships and another five who @wagjag turned down American schools to Visit facebook.com/wagjag play at Canadian universities. Proudly Canadian Though Bosco realized long ago that she had the potential to play NCAA soccer, things didn't always come easily. She tore ligaments in her ankle in 2010, then tore her Buy Online: ACL two years ago. The latter injury sidelined her for eight months $30.00 67% off and led to extensive rehabilitation. UP TO 67% OFF A HAIRCUT, STYLE "It always comes in the back of AND FULL COLOUR OR PARTIAL HIGHLIGHTS AT HEADS UP SALON (2 OPTIONS) Veronica Bosco and Oakville Soccer Club assistant technical director Chris Grierson show off Bosco's new team colours. | photo submitted your mind," Bosco said when asked if she ever thought the knee injury might end her NCAA dream. "But I had a great family backing me up, a great support system, and I really wanted it. I just gave it my all in the gym and in physio to try to be better than I was before." Bosco is optimistic that she can receive significant playing time next season as a freshman for Memphis, which went 4-5 in American Athletic Conference play last year (13-7-1 overall). But she knows she'll have to earn it. "Coach has told me there's no way I'm playing if I don't pass fitness testing in the pre-season," Bosco said. "That's something I'm trying to focus on. I do believe I can contribute to the team, and I think the coach sees that. I'll have to put in the work and hopefully the (results) will follow." Buy Online: 50% off $15.00 Buy Online: 63% off $99.00 Furnace Diagnostic Service only No additional charge for evenings and weekends $ $15 FOR $30 TOWARDS BABY PRODUCTS, BABY CLOTHING, TOYS AND MORE AT SNUGGLE BUGZ IN BURLINGTON OR MILTON $99 FOR A 1-WEEK MARCH BREAK LEGO CAMP AT LITTLE RASCALS INDOOR PLAYGROUND AND PARTY PLACE OAKVILLE (A $270 VALUE) 9 locations to serve you better 1 Brought to you by How to buy a WagJag: Go to www.wagjag.com 2 Click buy on the offer and follow the instructions. 3 Receive your deal, tell your friends and enjoy! www.aireone.com A+ RATING 905-849-4998 49 reg. $99 R0012448869