rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Everyone was on their feet to celebrate the legacy of three local sporting legends Friday night at the Family Leisure Centre.
More than 100 people gathered to celebrate in the vast accomplishments of gymnastics coach Eva Paniti-Meyer, football player Dan Federkeil and golfer Kelly Risling.
All three received standing ovations when they stepped to the podium.
“It was absolutely amazing,” said Paniti-Meyer, who immigrated from Romania in 1987 and became a coach at Salta Gymnastics club the following year, where she remains as head coach and program director today. “To get this honour, to be inducted in the Wall of Fame, it means so much to me. Sharing this memory with all of my friends and all of my family, I feel so honoured.”
Lana Richardson, who introduced Paniti-Meyer Friday, said the longtime gymnastics coach just seems to have a way about her – one that inspires young athletes to reach new heights and learn from their mistakes.
“There’s something about how Eva holds herself. The confidence and determination that emanates from her is something I’ve never felt from anyone else before,” said Richardson. “She doesn’t work to be that way, she just is that way.”
Glen Brunet introduced Federkeil – who he coached in high school with the Hat High Mohawks – alongside fellow coach Quinn Skelton, and said he always had a willingness to dig deep and give his all for the team, which paid off in the form of a Super Bowl ring with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and a Grey Cup title with the Calgary Stampeders in 2014.
“All through all those games, Dan has been one of the premier players,” said Brunet.
While Federkeil went on to become one of just 10 players in history to win a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup, he took Friday’s opportunity at the microphone to briefly share his belief that “none of it would have been possible” without the Mohawk family.
“Part of the reason it was a short speech is because I’m not a big people person, so standing up in front of everybody is quite uncomfortable. It was a lot worse when I was younger too, so just how accepting and inviting the atmosphere around the team was, it definitely helped me come out of my shell a little bit,” he said, adding in his short speech that, “It’s a great honour to be a Wall of Fame inductee.”
Ryan Werre, who nominated Risling and went on to introduce him at Friday’s induction ceremony, said the local golfer’s staggering successes in the Gas City will likely never be surpassed.
Risling was the 1996 Alberta mid-amateur champion, a member of Alberta’s provincial team four times and on Alberta’s Canadian mid-amateur championship squad in 2002. As of 2018, Risling has amassed more than 160 golf championships, including 25 Medicine Hat City Championships.
“He’s one of the best amateur golfers of our time,” Werre told the crowd. “Not only has he won more trophies than he can stuff into his basement, he’s also helped grow the game of golf locally by being involved in running and operating tournaments, sitting on numerous boards of local clubs and being a role model to golfers of all ages.”
Risling said he was truly honoured to be recognized by Medicine Hat for his successes on the golf course. The 62-year-old became the first golfer to grace the wall of fame Friday, but added he hopes to see another familiar face on the wall next to his one day.
“Be assured (Werre’s) picture will be up on one day, and I hope they put it right next to mine,” Risling told the crowd. “We’ve just become very close friends over the years and I really value his friendship. Golf has a way of bringing people together who normally wouldn’t be together for any reason.”
Risling added it’s especially humbling given the company the three will have on the Sports Wall of Fame.
“One of the fellows up on the Wall, Ev Nieman, was my boxing coach way back in 1971 or ’72. I made reference to Dr. (Ken) Sauer, who was my boss I guess in the school district. Graham Kelly was a school teacher, I knew Rud Henderson as a kid,” said Risling. “It’s a very diverse group up there and I know a lot of them, the ones who are not with us anymore as well.”
