The summer was a sizzler And so, too the world of sports. Here's a wrap of some of my favourite sizzling summer sporting moments.

Ancaster's Scott Dickens garnered gold in the 100m breaststroke at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. The University of British Columbia alumnus' podium performance was described as a "Dickens of a Victory." The splendid stroker added to his first place podium performance by bagging bronze in the 4 x 100m medley relay.

Dickens continued his hot summer harvest at the FISU (World Student) Games in Bangkok, Thailand where he stroked to bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

And McMaster University graduate and 2004 Olympic gold medallist, Adam van Koeverden claimed his first ever world title. The flatwater kayak crackerjack distinguished himself by winning the world championship title in the K1-500m in Duisburg, Germany. The Burloak club flatwater specialist added a silver souvenir in the K1-1000m.

Like Dickens, van Koeverden appears poised for the push to the podium at the 2008 Beijing bonanza.

Mark Oldershaw, the recipient of the 2001 Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year Award, completed the best season of his canoeing career capturing five World Cup medals.

The Burlington born canoeist finished fifth in the C1- 500m at the World Championships in Duisburg qualifying for the 2008 Olympics.

Burlington Notre Dame High School graduate, Tom Boleska had a solid summer season pitching for the Waterloo Bucks in the Northwoods Baseball League -- the grooming ground of undrafted Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeremy Accardo. The closer tops the team with 27 saves this season.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boleska has decided to pass on his final two years at High Point University in North Carolina.

The 21-year-old right-handed hurler will deliver "a fastball that tops out at 96 mph" in the New York Penn League for the State County Spikes with dreams of pitching at Pittsburgh's PNC Park -- the home of the big boys.

Add Canadian hurdler, Perdita Felicien's celebrated silver at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan to my list of summer favourites.

After a heartbreaking 2004 Olympics, Felicien "is back" -- back on top of the hurdling world, and a real threat for a podium finish at Beijing in 2008.

A real sizzler was the Appalachian State Mountaineers -- the Lilliputians of NCAA football -- defeating the mighty Michigan Wolverines, the fifth ranked team in America, 34-32 to kick start another scintillating season of unpredictable NCAA and CIS football.

Perhaps not on the same scale, but meriting recognition was the 1-0 defeat of the defending, and number one ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels soccer team by the unranked University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Tar Heels have graduated some mighty fine soccer players. Among them FIFA World Player of the Year, Mia Hamm and four-time NCAA champion and Nelson High school graduate Meagan Dougherty, now the head coach of the Canisius College women's soccer team.

The Farmer's Almanac has projected a difficult winter. But, as long as there are games to be played the season will be a sizzler for me.