Stettler sent three teams to the Ponoka Junior Curling Club’s competitive bonspiel this month.
“The bonspiel was all high school curling teams and I have to say I was pretty proud of our teams, who were three and four years younger than the teams out there and held their own,” said Stettler junior coach Nancy Georget.
“They didn’t walk away as medal contenders, but created quite a stir in the club because of their younger age. It was very well-played.”
Among the Stettler entries was the high school team skipped by Grade 8 student Paul Georget, a 14-year-old skip. His team included third Taylor Marko, second Aaron Lee and lead Justin Dadensky.
Georget has gained considerable experience from playing among adults, including his father Colin, in the Stettler men’s league.
At the Ponoka junior ’spiel, Georget’s rink advanced to Pool B action in a skins-style format.
“You got two points per end if you won that end, and if you won the game, you got another five points,” said Nancy Georget, Paul’s mom.
Youth movement
Stettler’s all-Grade 8 team is made up of skip Katherine Hataley, third Megan Roper, lead Skylar Kirkness and second Breanne Kent. They’re all 13 years old, but with varying levels of junior curling experience.
“Megan and Katherine are in their third year, Breanne is in her second year and Skylar is in her first,” said Megan’s mother, Brandi Roper. “The girls are all really good friends in school.”
Last month, Hataley’s rink won a Wetaskiwin bonspiel and placed second in Brownfield.
“Our third bonspiel was (this month) in Ponoka, where the girls were in tough, as they were in the grades 8 to 12 category,” Brandi Roper said.
Leduc bonspiel on tap
Up next for Stettler junior curlers is this weekend’s Leduc bonspiel.
Some of the young curlers are bound for CARA competition Feb. 28.
Also on tap is the Innisfail bonspiel March 2 and the Red Deer bonspiel March 10.
The Stettler women’s league has welcomed the junior girls to play with the adults on Tuesday nights.
“That gives (the juniors) great experience and practice and the ladies’ teams really help them out with strategy,” Brandi Roper said.
Stettler’s junior curlers normally practise each Monday night.