The Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) and Yorkton Curling Club (YCC) hosted the annual YRHS Junior Invitational Curling Bonspiel featuring students in Grades 7,8 and 9. This year's bonspiel attracted 31 teams from across the school division, the most the event has ever had, reports co-ordinator Grant Bjornerud. "That includes boys, girls and mixed teams, by far our best turnout," he adds.
While the bonspiel is for students in Grades 7,8 and 9, there were some youngsters from Grade 6 taking part. "It's good to start them young to get them out there and get them some experience. With 31 teams, it bodes well for curling down the line here. If we keep these kids in he sport will be a great thing," Bjornerud predicts.
It seems there are a lot of good teachers and coaches promoting the sport in the schools, he suggests. The promotion seems to be paying off and hopefully the trend will continue, Bjornerud says.
The junior teams, all 31 are feeder schools for their high school curling teams as well, Bjornerud points out.
Saskatchewan junior curlers, both girls and boys teams have done pretty well on the world curling scene the last few years, he notes. "Hopefully some of these, one day, might be in their position," Bjornerud closes.
The Sturgis School team of skip Jesse Schiller, third Allison Sopel, second Cole Kowalchuk, lead Kaeleigh Folk, lead Tyler Antoniuk coached Craig Folk and Kristen Peterson claimed the mixed curling title.
The girls' championship was claimed by the Sturgis School girls' team of skip Kelly Bazuik, third Danielle Burym, second Peyton Secundiak, lead Sydney Burym, lead Cyndal Gibb coached by Craig Folk and Kristen Peterson.
Skip Kelly Bazuik says this was her team first bonspiel. The recently formed team had just two practises to prepare for the bonspiel. "We just came to have fun and we ended up doing better than we thought we would," Bazuik comments.
The junior boys' title was won by the Preeceville School boys' team of Skip Jess Olson, third Steven Geistlinger, second Shawn Pasiechnik, lead Jesse Antonichuk and lead Brandon Dyky coached by Joe Yacyshyn and Laurie Antonichuk. Team skip Olson says the team made very good last shots in most ends. The combination of good shooting and coaches' instructions led to the win.
