The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) senior boys' curling team won the bronze medal at the provincial tournament in Assiniboia March 1 and 2.
Estevan split their first four games. They opened with a 5-4 win over Swift Current, but lost 6-3 to Saskatoon Walter Murray. They recovered to defeat Prince Albert St. Mary's 8-5, but dropped a 4-1 decision to Saskatoon Holy Cross.
ECS defeated Shellbrook 5-1 in a C final to qualify for the medal round.
The Elecs faced Saskatoon Walter Murray in the semi-final, and lost 3-1. Walter Murray scored twice in the first end. Estevan's only point came in the fourth. Walter Murray stole one in the eighth.
Estevan doubled up Swift Current 6-3 in the bronze medal game, thanks in large part to a steal of four in the fourth end that gave ECS a 5-0 lead.
ECS skip Riley Wallewein applauded the level of competition at provincials this year.
“It was probably harder than last year,” said Wallewein. “All of the teams were really competitive.”
Wallewein said ECS executed their shots at provincials, and were able to keep their games close.
The other members of the team were third Dustin Doerr, second Riley Lafrentz and lead Rylan Hauck. All four students are in Grade 12. Mark Kroeker was the coach.
“We knew that we wanted to end off our high school careers with a win,” said Wallewein.
Wallewein noted that he, Doerr and Hauck will be trying to qualify for juvenile provincials this year, too. The zone qualifier will begin March 9 at the Estevan Curling Club. Lafrentz is too old to play in juveniles.
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The Oxbow Prairie Horizons School senior girls' team competed at provincials in Carrot River. Oxbow opened well, defeating Maple Creek No. 1 10-3 and Loon Lake Ernie Studer 9-7 in their first two games. But they lost their next three contests: 9-2 to the eventual provincial champions from Esterhazy, 7-1 to Loon Lake and 6-4 to Maple Creek No. 1, which ended their tournament.
