The 2023 Provincial U18 Curling Championships wrapped up this past weekend at the Altona Curling Club and for the 17 teams who competed, the hundreds of spectators who watched and supported those teams and the countless volunteers who helped out, it was memorable week.
“It was such a good five days,” said host committee co-chair Quinn Hildebrand shortly after the end of the closing ceremonies on Saturday afternoon. “There were no fires to put out, it all went so smooth because of the great planning and the dedication of our volunteers and our hosting committee.”
Dayna Wahl along with Piper Stoesz, Anna Ginters and Gillian Hildebrand of the Altona Curling Club and Jace Freeman, Elias Huminicki, Jack Steski and Rylan Graham of the Virden Curling Club won their respective provincial finals on Saturday.
The Provincial U18 Championships started two days after Christmas and ended on New Year’s Eve.
Hildebrand was grateful for the help the host committee received during the holiday week.
“It’s so special. We were a little bit slow to start with those volunteer numbers and then like always Altona stepped up, came through, and we ended up with too many volunteers. We had this list of people to call and it just worked out so great. We are so happy with the turnout. We couldn’t have scripted it better to have Team Wahl win to cap off a great hometown win for them.”
Hildebrand noted that the crowds were fabulous during the entire event but the highlight of the week was when Wahl, Stoesz, Ginters and Hildebrand met Shaela Hayward, Keira Krahn, Rylie Cox and India Young of the Carman Curling Club on the 12:30 p.m. draw Friday afternoon in the final round robin game for both teams.
The support for Team Wahl and Team Hayward was impressive.
“That was the day that we set a record,” said Hildebrand. “We had 173 people in the building. Even when the hometown or locals (Nash Sugden of Morden and Zack Norris of Morris) weren’t on the ice, we saw great crowds. There were over 75 people here for the semifinals and that was fantastic. I think it attributes to our facility. People can see from the walking track. You get a great view from there as well as the lounge and our camera system has really added that next layer to the spectator for sure.”
The 2023 U18 championships marked the seventh time the Altona Curling Club has hosted a CurlManitoba provincial event.
“The cycle that it’s created of hosting these events has been really neat,” Hildebrand said. “Back when we hosted the Scotties in 2011 we saw a young Mackenzie and Emily Zacharias as well as Hayley and Payton Bergman helping out. They were carrying placards in that opening ceremonies. Then we saw them as competitors in the 2018 U21 junior championship and we saw Team Wahl members carry placards. Now they were competing in this event. So, what’s next for the kids that were carrying a placard this week? That’s the question and I’m hopeful that our grassroots programs can keep chugging forwards.”
2015 Provincial U18 champions Emily Zacharias, Mackenzie Zacharias, Hayley Bergman & Payton Bergman were recognized during the opening ceremonies along with longtime Altona CC manager Terry Peters
Thu, Apr 25, 8:01 AM
Transport, Full-time
Featured
