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Youth springs eternal

Welcoming classes and kids with clinics and fun on ice is paying off for Glen Meadows Curling Club.
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Deitrich Wille practices his throws and sweeping at Glen Meadows in training for the new youth curling league.


Welcoming classes and kids with clinics and fun on ice is paying off for Glen Meadows Curling Club.

The new junior program is just what they had in mind when they started inviting students from local schools to hit the ice last year — a program that continues through KELSET elementary this year. The new junior program has 24 youth, including two teams (nine kids) who compete.

“We have a 14-game interlocking schedule between the clubs so it gives a chance to travel around and see other clubs, get playing other teams and everybody seems to be enjoying it,” said Lynn Wilson, coach of the new junior club members. It’s the first year of the fledgling program, but so far, so good.

“It seems to be filling a need,” Wilson said. “All the clubs were very enthusiastic about it. They were all asked to put two traveling teams together.”

Four clubs in Victoria and others as far north as Campbell River participate, though the southern teams travel only as far as Nanaimo for game-play.

“We’re hoping that it will expand even further next year,” Wilson said.

With word-of-mouth from the kids already enjoying the sport, they could see more youth next year.

James Mackey, 13, is one of the newly competitive youth curlers who enjoys the traveling team.

“I tried a lot of sports, and I wanted a sport that was … less people and not as busy,” Mackey said.

“I wanted to try curling. I thought it would be fun, and I’d watched a lot of curling and my grandpa used to curl so he recommended it.”

The Bayside middle school student is in his second year of curling.

“It’s probably my favourite sport now,” he said. “I like being out on the ice and throwing rocks. It took a bit to get used to, but now when I throw it’s fun … Every week I have a new goal for myself. I like being able to try and reach those.”

Competing is fun, and a new part of the experience, he said.

“I really enjoy that, it’s fun to play other teams.”

Teammate Deitrich Wille, 12, agrees.

“It’s just really fun … a challenge,” he said.

Wille, in his third year playing but first competitive year, just loved the look of the sport.

“I just heard about this and thought it was pretty cool,” he said.

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com