No shortage of inspiration for curlers heading to nationals
The Fleming Knights women’s team will have no shortage of inspiration to draw from as the quintet competes in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Curling Championships now underway in Leduc, Alta.
Skip Paige Droog just threw rocks for the first time just last Wednesday after recovering from a hairline fracture in her right foot – she was cleared for play for the second week of March after her walking cast was removed.
After tripping during the banquet, Droog played through the pain as the team claimed bronze during the Ontario College Athletics Association Championships (OCAA) in Sault Ste Marie from Feb. 8 to 11 to qualify for the nationals.
The Mount Forest native has been determined to overcome an injury that would have sidelined most for an entire season, head coach David Farnell said Wednesday as he packed his bags for the team’s early-morning departure.
“Everyone draws from that,” he said, pointing out that vice Jillian Page of Brantford has also been on placement at Deerhurst Resort near Huntsville since early January, adding to the difficulty of getting everyone together. “It inspires them.”
But while he would have liked to have more time to practice, Farnell said the result is that the squad will head into Wild Rose Country under the radar.
“I always like that position,” he quipped.
The nationals, which Fleming hosted in 2011 and whose men won in 2015, are a big event, said Farnell, who has 55 years of experience as a player, official and coach at every level of competition.
He has coached teams at Fleming and Trent for more than 15 years and knows what it feels like to play on the national stage for the first time.
“I’m sure there will be all kinds of butterflies during that first game, but that will be true for everybody,” Farnell said. “They are going to enjoy it. Even if they don’t win a game, they will remember if for the rest of their lives.”
His key message for the team will be to take things one shot at a time. “The next shot always becomes the most important shot of their lives.”
It will be a great life experience for the curlers, he said, pointing out that the first opponent will be a team from the Maritimes. “Suddenly your horizons for the sport change. You are meeting people from all over the country.”
Sportsmanship is a big part of curling and the women will no doubt make many friends, more so because the nationals are being held in an arena – not the smaller curling clubs competitors are more familiar with, Farnell said.
The Fleming squad – which won the fair play award voted on by their peers at the provincials – is a very tight-knit group, he said.
The team also includes second Nikkita Campbell, of Paisley, lead Nicole McLennan, of Guelph, and alternate Melanie Lasalle, of Cape Breton, N.S.
“Everybody has each other’s back,” Farnell said, calling the women wonderful representatives of the college and sport overall. “They have style and class when they are out there competing .... They have really done us proud.”
Farnell was also recognized at the provincials, winning OCAA coach of the year. He joked that a recount must be in order. “It’s a terrific honour, of course.”
Fleming defeated Humber 7-6 to win bronze at the provincials. The Knights scored five in the first three ends to take the lead on Fanshawe in the semi-final before the Falcons stormed back in the fourth and fifth ends.
The team also overcame distraction – half the team was stranded overnight in Toronto after flight cancellations and arrived at Sault College late on the second day. Their broom bag didn’t make the flight and arrived after their first game.
Droog was named the OCAA championship women’s secondteam all-star, while Amy Conley was named the mixed all-star.
The nationals began Wednesday and continue through March 29.
NOTE: Fleming College varsity teams play in a Wednesday night open league at the Peterborough Curling Club.