The Brock Badgers curling teams are headed to Alberta this weekend with their eyes set on winning the first national championships in the program\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Both Brock\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s curling teams qualified for the 2018 USPORTS\/Curling Canada Curling Championships being hosted by the University of Alberta this Saturday, March 24 to Wednesday, March 28 in Leduc, Alberta.<\/p>\n
The Badgers men won the Ontario University Athletics championship in Sault Ste. Marie last month while the women finished third, earning them both a berth into the USPORTS finals. The men\u2019s OUA title was Brock\u2019s eighth provincial or national banner won in 2017-18, tying the record for most won in a single year. A men\u2019s or women\u2019s win in Leduc would make this year the winningest in Badgers history.<\/p>\n
In addition to helping break that record, a win by either team would also qualify them for the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia next March.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Badgers prepared for the Championships with a light practice based on playing shots that they often use in their games and just trying to get a good feel in their deliveries,\u201d said head coach Murray Etherington after a team practice at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club this week. \u201cThe men and women are ready to go and we just wanted to get some slides in and not overthink anything. Both teams are as prepared as they are going to be and are confident and ready to hit the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Championships are part of the Curl4Canada week-long festival in Leduc organized by both USPORTS and Curling Canada. The event will also include the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, the 2018 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships and the 2018 Mixed Doubles Curling Championships.<\/p>\n
The Badgers men are heading to Leduc having won their third OUA title in program history. The team is led by senior skip and two-sport athlete Eric Bradey, who has a talented core including third Jamie Waters, second Nick Lemieux, lead Ben Hughes and alternate Douglas Thomson.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the men to be successful they need to stick with their mantra of not looking at who they are playing, just controlling what they can control and executing their shots,\u201d said Etherington. \u201cThey will continue to try to read the ice quickly and play the style of game that they play the best. Each player knows their role.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Brock women\u2019s team is made up of skip Terri Weeks, third Jessica Humphries, second Marcia Richardson, lead Joanna Francolini and alternate Jeanette Burnside.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe women will need to capitalize on opponents\u2019 misses,\u201d said Etherington. \u201cThey need to have a high makes after misses percentage and reduce unforced errors during the competition. Each player will need to recognize when scoring opportunities present themselves and take advantage of those opportunities. Play to their individual strengths and their team\u2019s strengths. These women are a strong, resilient team.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to Etherington, who will coach the women\u2019s team in Leduc, Mike Smith will coach the men\u2019s team and Karen Heywood will be assistant coach of the women\u2019s team.<\/p>\n