Female Athlete of the Week: Sherry Middaugh

This week’s female Athlete of the Week is Sherry Middaugh of Victoria Harbour, Ontario. Birthdate: Oct. 11, 1966 Birthplace: Rosetown, Sask. Hometown: Victoria Harbour, Ont. Curling Club: Coldwater and District Curling Club Current Team: Team Middaugh Position: Skip Delivery: Right Nickname: Sher Getting to know Sherry Middaugh If curling were a popularity contest, Sherry Middaugh would be a perennial champion. The six-time participant at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts not only is one of the best skips on the planet, she also happens to be one of the nicest ones, constantly leaving a trail of smiles in her wake. She’d also be in the running for the Tournament of Hearts hard-luck award. She’s made the playoffs in all six of her trips to the Scotties (twice for Saskatchewan, four times for Ontario), and has never finished with worse than a 7-4 round-robin record; her career record is 46-20 at the Hearts. But despite all that round-robin brilliance, Middaugh hasn’t found her way into the final at the Canadian championship, coming home with four bronze medals after semifinal losses. As well, she was named to the Hearts first all-star team in 1996, and earned second-team honours in 2008 and 2002. In addition to building up a terrific collection of provincial jackets, Middaugh also has participated in the Olympic Trials on three occasions — in 1997 at Brandon, 2001 in Regina and 2005 in Halifax, and also won the first edition of the Canada Cup of Curling in 2003 at Kamloops, B.C., to clinch the first berth into the ’05 Trials. She also won two editions of the TSN/JVC Women’s Skins Game, and, oh yes, happens to play on one of the best mixed teams ever formed — a squad in the Tuesday night Major League at the Penetanguishene Curling Club that features her husband, two-time world champ Wayne Middaugh, along with three-time world champ Glenn Howard and his wife Judy. Middaugh also involved with the annual Curl With the Pros bonspiel, which helps raise funds for the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation. Quick Hits with Sherry Middaugh Do you have any superstitions? “I like to say that I have no superstitions but I try and do the same routines when we are winning, like sitting in the same spot in the van.” Three people, living or not, whom you would invite to a dinner party. “Elton John, my mom (deceased) and Tiger Woods.” If you could be a star any other sport, what would it be, and why? “Golf, because it is so frustrating.” If you could change any rule in curling, which one would it be, and why? “I’d like to see the games go to eight ends because I freeze out on the ice for 10-end games!” What music do you like to listen to before a game? “Anything with some pep.” Favourite: — Website? “www.teammiddaugh.com, of course!” — Order from Tim Hortons? “Large coffee with milk and a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie, if I want to indulge.” — Vacation destination? “Florida with the family, every April.” — Junk food? “Chips and dip, popcorn (Wayne and I are awful snackers).” Do you have any pet peeves? “Children not listening, lights being left on in unoccupied rooms.” Three things you always travel with: “A book, Visa card, cell phone.” First thing on your Bucket List? “Go to an Elton John concert.” Favourite pastime between draws at cashspiels? “I like to just relax and watch some mindless TV, like most shows on TLC, or home-reno shows.” One thing most people don’t know about you? “How lucky I am to be married to Wayne Middaugh.” What is the biggest misconception about curlers? “That a ’spiel is only a weekend thing; you travel on Thursdays and sometimes don’t get home till Tuesday.” Your ideal shot to win an Olympic gold medal: “Out-turn draw.”