Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette Jada Wallace, a senior at Oakland Catholic High School, practices backstroke at Chatham College on Friday.

By Scott Robertson
Tri-State Sports & News Service

Jada Wallace looked up to her older sister for the ordinary reasons -- and an extraordinary one.

As a 13-year-old, Jordan Wallace was diagnosed with diabetes. Yet she developed into an elite swimmer at Oakland Catholic High School, a multiple WPIAL and PIAA champion who would earn an athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia.

"Jordan showed me that no matter what happens to you, you can do the things you want if you work hard and set your mind to it," Jada said.

It was a lesson well learned.

Nearly five years after Jordan graduated from Oakland Catholic, Jada is a senior there. She is on the swim team and an inspiration for anyone with health issues, even more so than her sister.

Jada Wallace has spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord or brain and its protective coverings don't develop completely. There are three variations of the disorder and it attacks patients in different ways.

In Jada's case, the defect caused her to lose the use of her legs. She uses a wheelchair to attend classes and walks with crutches.

But she competes in a sport in which leg power -- a strong kick -- is almost essential for success.

"When you ask about our team, the first person I think of is the one who works the hardest," said Oakland Catholic Coach Mercedes McCarthy.

The younger of the Penn Hills sisters competes in freestyle sprint events. But not in a conventional manner.

She cannot start on the starting blocks and dive into the water. Either Ms. McCarthy or male members of the Central Catholic team -- Oakland Catholic's sister school -- lead Jada to the water and help her into the pool.

When the starting gun is fired, she moves through the water solely on the strength of her arms and upper body. Jada may not be a champion at the scholastic level, but because of her effort, her coach and teammates view her as one.

"She inspires everyone," Ms. McCarthy said. "I am sure that Jada was a very important influence on Jordan and everything she was able to do."

As a swimmer, Jordan has done a lot. She was a freestyle sprint and backstroke specialist in high school. After transferring from Georgia following her freshman year, she competed for two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, from which she graduated.

Jordan won Big East Conference championships in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events and took third in the 100 backstroke as a junior. Last winter, as a senior, she finished third in all three. She also participated in the Olympic Trials twice.

Her motivator always seemed to be nearby.

"I don't think I ever had a meet where Jada was not there cheering for me," Jordan said.

"There were times when I was tired or sore from practicing and didn't want to do it. Then I would look around and see how hard Jada was trying and what she was going through. It was great inspiration."

Jordan said she was surprised to learn that Jada drew inspiration from her.

"I guess she might have gotten some inspiration from me, but I really don't think of it that way," she said. "There have been so many advances with diabetes that it's not that difficult to handle. Jada goes through a lot more and I don't think I have ever heard her complain."

Becoming a swimmer seemed like a natural progression for Jada. Her father, Mark, also was an outstanding competitor. But the activity has served as a means of physical therapy as well, according to Heather Wallace, Jada's mother.

"Because of spina bifida, she lacks some of the motor skills, so she lacks some fine-tuning in her stroke technique," Ms. Wallace said.

"But nothing stops her. She really enjoys swimming. She'll practice and swim 600 or 800 or 1,000 yards a night. I couldn't do that."

Jada also is a member of the Woodland Hills Aquatics Club. She has won numerous awards, including three gold medals at the Appalachian Wheelchair Games in 2005, and has earned three varsity letters.

The pool is not her only venue. She is a student ambassador at her school, and a mentor to Oakland Catholic students and other children who have spina bifida.

College is ahead. Jada is interested in studying rehabilitation sciences, and is considering Slippery Rock and Edinboro universities. She hopes to continue swimming after high school, but isn't sure what avenue she may take.

"I like swimming because it helps me get my arms and upper body stronger, and I like being around my friends on the team," she said.

"I don't know if I inspire my teammates. It's not something I try to do. "

Yet she does.

"I know if I think I'm having a bad day, all I have to do is look at how hard Jada is working and how she is helping her teammates," Ms. McCarthy said. "All of a sudden, it's not such a bad day."