Burlington inducts four into sports hall of fame

Four well-known local athletes and sports leaders were recently inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame (BSHOF).

Inaugurated in 2007 with its first inductees selected in 2009, the BSHOF now regularly selects notable local sporting figures into the hall including athletes, coaches, officials, media, and volunteers.

Currently, the hall is located at the Burlington Visitor’s Centre, 414 Locust St. Here, photos and biographies of the current inductees are on display along with a panel that lists all the members and sponsors. The exhibit includes a touch screen with photos and information on all the current members.

Here are the most recent inductees with brief highlights of their careers:

Shelley Simonton Barnett
Builder — Nexxice Synchronized Skating

• Coach of Burlington NEXXICE Synchronized Skating team since 2000
• Two-time World Champions (2009 and 2015)
• Canadian representatives at Worlds, eight-time medallists
• 19-time medallists at Canadian championships:
• 13 gold; 5 silver; 1 bronze
• Nexxice is currently ranked fourth in the world

Marnix Heersink, MD
Athlete — Basketball

• Graduate of Burlington Central High School where he excelled at basketball, football, track, hockey, and baseball
• Graduate of University of Western Ontario, Schulich School of Medicine
• Western University Basketball All-Canadian Centre (1966–68; 1971–72)
• Freshman Player of the Year (1966–67)
• O-QAA Champions (1967–68)
• Recipient: Father E.C. LeBel Plaque, O-QAA Most Outstanding Player (1967–68)
• Three-time team MVP and three-time O-QAA All-Star
• CIAU First Team All-Canadian (1971–72)
• Inducted: John P. Metras Sports Museum, Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame (2011)

Brady Heslip
Athlete — Basketball

• Graduate of John T. Tuck Elementary and Nelson High School
• Won a Halton Championship with Nelson H.S. Lords
• Three-time All-Star Halton honouree
• Played four years at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, going to the Elite Eight in 2012
• Represented Canada on National team for 10 years, helping to capture silver at the Pan Am games and bronze at the FIBA Americas Championship (2015)
• Competed with Fred VanVleet for a spot on the Raptors
• Played seven professional seasons in the NBA G-league, Raptors 905 (2016–17), NBA summer league, the Bosnia National League, and Bundesliga in Germany
• Named General Manager of the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the CEBL in 2022

Kate Psota
Athlete — Baseball

• Graduate of Aldershot High School and Wilfrid Laurier University
• First female honoured with Player of the Year by Baseball Ontario (2002)
• Played in every International Baseball Federation (IBAF) World Cup since 2004
• Named Canadian National Baseball MVP (2009 and 2010)
  • Four-time IBAF World Cup All Star (2010, 2012, 2016, 2018)
  • Seven-time IBAF World Cup team medallist; (2006, 2008, 2012, 2018 Bronze); (2008, 2015, 2016 silver)
  • Recipient: Jimmy Rattlesnake Award (2008)
• Member of Laurier Golden Hawks hockey team, winning five consecutive OUA championships (2006–2010) and 2010 bronze medal at CIS Nationals

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