Five young curlers and their coach are looking to win the first high school championship since Max Cameron Secondary School’s Paul Culos, Phil Carrier, Lyle Sieg and Dean McDonald won the boys’ title in 1977.
This year, Erica Cawley, Michaela Douglas, Maddie Yule, Alia McPhee and Charlotte Schreurs will represent Brooks Secondary School and the Island Zone in Kamloops.
The team achieved its entry through the hard work of volunteers at Powell River Curling Club (PRCC) who provided instruction through their high school program and followed through with competition in leagues and bonspiels.
It was extremely gratifying for PRCC members to see the team breeze through the zone competition at Juan de Fuca Curling Club and get a chance to compete at the championship level.
“It’s great for our junior and our school program,” said board member Marlene Hall. “We’re hoping that their success will lead to an expanded program. I’m really thrilled for the girls.”
Aside from wishing the team luck, it is going to need lots of rest.
The gruelling schedule has it playing three games on Thursday, February 28, three more the following day Friday, March 1 and the final takes place at 9 am on Saturday, March 2.
Michaela’s father, Dave Douglas, is the coach and he has been busy getting the team ready for battle. “These are all winners from the other zones so I expect the competition to be very good. We expect the games to be tight and we are preparing for that.”
The team has been practicing three times a week and playing against adult teams in preparation. “We have practice ice for an hour on Wednesday night,” he said of their schedule in Kamloops, “and then we are on the ice at 9 the next morning.”
Dave, who received his competitive coaching training in Nanaimo, said the girls are keen students of the game and soak up strategy from sources like televised curling events. “They pick up things from watching on TV,” he said. “It’s all part of their learning.”
Asked about strategy he said, “We can play both the takeout and draw game but our strength leans more toward takeout.”
He may be the strategist but the executioners are the girls.
His grade 12 daughter, who has eight years of curling experience, said, “I’m very excited to be going. Our goal is to play well and do the best that we can do.”
Michaela acknowledges the help received from PRCC. “Our club has been very supportive and helped us to get where we are by helping us to train.”
Fans of the young curlers can follow the team’s progress online.
