A pair of rinks that are in their first year together have earned the right to represent the Rivers West District and serve as the home squad during the Saskatchewan Winter Games in North Battleford next month.
Cody Sutherland’s Maidstone foursome and Kelsey Sommerfeld’s rink from Rosetown both posted perfect 4-0 records at the Twin Rivers Curling Club over the weekend as they finished in first place in the Rivers West district qualifiers.
“We had a chance to compete at the junior provincials in December, but that didn’t go our way,” Sutherland said. “We wanted to make up for that by qualifying for the Winter Games, so we’re really excited that we were able to do that.”
“This was our only chance as a team to make it to the Winter Games, as we will all be too old to compete at this level four years from now,” Sommerfeld added. “It’s a great opportunity for our rink and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Sommerfeld, who is joined on her rink by third Liane Wood, second Taylor Wenzel and lead Anna Rumpf, clinched her spot in the Winter Games with a 9-3 win in the final over Rachel Schmidt of St. Walburg.
“We got a four-ender to start things off and that sure was a great way to get things going,” Sommerfeld said. “We went in the game with a lot of confidence with how we had played all weekend, and that just boosted things a little bit more.
“They kept the pressure on us though and they got a three-ender later in the game to close things in. My heart started to beat really fast at that point, but we played well as a team to keep the lead.”
The Sutherland rink, which includes third Doug Sroka, second Bruce Krepps and lead Jack Reid, had a much more dramatic conclusion to their tournament.
With the score tied at three in the eighth end against Jesse Denny of St. Walburg, Sutherland drew to the eight-foot to pick up a 4-3 win, but he didn’t know that he had won until a measurement took place.
“I wanted to have the draw on the last shot but it ended up sliding a little bit farther than I would have liked as I was trying to get it to the four-foot,” Sutherland said.
“I never took a look while they were measuring to see who was shot stone. I didn’t want to know until they told us.”
Although the rinks are from out of town, there is a local connection to both squads as Rumpf and Reid are both from North Battleford.
“I’m pretty pumped up about having the chance to compete in the Winter Games in my hometown,” Rumpf said. “It’s been a good season with this group of girls and I think it’s going to a great week for us in February.”
“I think it will set in for me when the opening ceremonies take place,” Reid added. “I’m just glad that I’ve had the chance to play with these guys and have an opportunity to compete at an event like this.”
The Saskatchewan Winter Games will get underway run from Feb. 18 to 24.
