Back in November, junior curling coach, Marla Forth, invited the kids that participate in the Junior Curling program to submit their names into the draw for the Junior Stars at the Tim Hortons Brier. The names of two juniors were picked – Graham Litwiller and Rachel Sweeney. They were paired up with Team Quebec and marched out onto the ice at the Saddledome with team Quebec on Monday March 2nd before the 6:30 draw.
Graham Litwiller is 15 and is a grade 9 student at Chestermere Lake Middle School. Has been curling for 5 years with Marla’s program and finished 3rd in the grade 9 Bonspiel this year – he was Skip. After years of watching the Brier and other curling events on TV, Graham admits it was pretty cool to be there in person and get to go right down there on the ice with all the players. “They were all so nice to us and really seemed interested in the fact that we kids are into curling too. We even got to meet the broadcasters, see the TSN booth and see how it all works. We even got to meet Glenn Howard and have a photo taken with him”.
As part of their experience, they were taken on a tour of the Brier and met the broadcasters, saw the TSN booth and saw how it all works. The met and talked with players and coaches from all over Canada, a truly amazing experience.
Litwiller says, “My favorite part of curling is we get to learn a lot while having fun at the same time and being active. It is a friendly game where both teams can talk and have fun while using problem solving skills to try and figure out the best play to make each throw”.
Grade 7 student at St. Gabriel the Archangel School, Rachel Sweeney has been curling for 6 years. She called the experience a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and “The experience was breathtaking, to go on the ice of professional players and get announced with the Quebec team. It was very cool to meet the Quebec team and get advice about curling. My favourite part of curling is playing it and being involved. My favourite position is being a 3rd. Curling will always be with me and it was amazing to meet professional curlers”.
The winning participants in the ‘Junior Stars at The Brier” win a ticket for them and two parent/ guardians to one of the team’s round robin draws, a jacket, a pin, a photo with the team and an introduction with the team at a pre-game ceremony. This contest was open to all Southern Alberta Curling Association junior curlers between the ages of 12-18.
Congratulations Graham and Rachel!
