RDC Queens team member Katie Primrose grew up just north of Rumsey and was one of the team members to win the big medal.
“We didn’t really expect it, I mean you always hope to do the best and win it all but going in we were kinda like the underdogs,” said Primrose. “We were just hoping to medal so when we won it, we were pretty surprised.”
The gold medal served as a good send-off to Primroses’ skip, Marla Sherrer as she is in her last year of schooling.
“It was a good way to end it,” said Primrose.
Primrose began curling at a very young age as her siblings, parents and grandparents all played the sport.
At age ten, she started to curl regularly after school through the Rumsey junior curling program held at the Rumsey curling rink.
“There’s a picture of me when I’m probably three throwing a curling rock so I mean I’ve been curling for a while,” said Primrose.
Primrose attributes her success to a strong and encouraging community, helping her every step of the way.
“Rumsey is just a great curling community,” said Primrose. “They definitely encouraged me to keep curling and they encourage younger kids to curl so they are definitely one of the main reasons why I am where I am.”
Primrose is in her first year of postsecondary, taking a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Curling National Championships were held in Camrose from Wednesday, March 22 to March 25 with 16 teams playing for the title.
The team kept a level head throughout the season, facing many tough opponents along the way.
“The competition throughout the whole season for our women’s curling was very competitive,” said Primrose. “Each team had their strengths.”
As the round robin came to a close on the Friday, the RDC team had played four games, winning one and three, faced with the task of winning the rest of the games in order to see Saturday.
“There was a little pressure,” said Primrose.
The team took advantage of the sheets close to home as many more family and friends were able to come out and cheer them on.
“It’s crazy to think that you’re national champions, I’ve only ever been provincial [champion],” said Primrose. “You’re just that one step higher.”
Primrose’s coach Brad Hamilton will scout at local bonspiels and watch up and coming curlers. Primrose also had an ‘in’ as her older sister Julie had played for the RDC Queens before she joined.
“If you are into curling and you know there’s a curling program, you figure out the tryouts and just go and hope for the best,” said Primrose.
To future curlers, Primrose gave advice telling others to make the most of each opportunity to curl.
“Any opportunity to curl or any bonspiel you can enter – just go for it.” said Primrose. “You never know what friends you’ll make.”
