Roperti, Frank
item
- Player Name
- Roperti, Frank
- Type
- Athlete
- Sport
- Martial Arts
- Inducted
- 2012
- Era
- 1971 – 1990
- Description
-
Inducted into the City of Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame January 2012 ; Athlete - Soccer ; Wrestling ; Martial Arts 1971 - 1990 Era ; Automatic Induction ;
While growing up in Niagara Falls, Frank Roperti participated in several different sports. His keen athletic abilities allowed him to transition from one sport to another. In 1982, Frank joined the Niagara Junior Wrestling Club, pioneered by Al Agar, at A.N. Myer Secondary School for Grade 7 and 8 students. Frank advanced to high school wrestling and also enrolled at the Niagara Olympic Wrestling Club for varsity wrestlers at Brock University. His wrestling accomplishments include a Gold Medal at the 1983 Provincial Wrestling Championships and a Silver Medal the same year at the Canadian Wrestling Championships. A second Gold Medal was captured at the 1984 Canadian Amateur Wrestling Championships. Frank was also adept at soccer. In 1981, Frank captained the Under 13 Niagara Falls Team that won the Ontario Cup Championships, where he scored two goals. In 1985, Frank’s Niagara Falls traveling team won the Niagara Region League and Play-off Championships. Frank also played on the 1986 Under 18 Niagara Soccer travelling team and won the South Western Ontario League and Play-off Championships. In addition, his team was a quarter finalist in the Ontario Cup Championships. Frank credits his success as a soccer player to an inspirational individual, Tony Pingue, who coached him seven out of eight years, from 1981 through 1987.
Frank’s football prowess, as a wingback on the A.N. Myer Secondary School Junior Football Team, contributed to their S.O.S.S.A Championship in 1985. Frank Roperti was an exceptional Martial Arts student. From 1980 – 1982, Frank was a member of the Niagara Falls Judo Club based out of the Y.M.C.A. on Fourth Avenue where he won the Ontario Judo Olympics two years in a row. It was there that he achieved his Brown Belt distinction. Frank was also involved with the Don Warner GoJuRu Karate Studio on Victoria Avenue. All of his training and perseverance resulted in Frank becoming a Canadian Champion at the 1989 Canadian Karate GoJuRu Championships. Frank retired from competitive sports in 1990. He continues to play and coach soccer recreationally in Niagara Falls today. Frank’s Sports Wall of Fame status was well earned. - Subject
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Awards
Portraits - Biographical
Sports - Recreation - Leisure
Niagara Falls Virtual Sports Wall of Fame
- Media
Frank Roperti