Blenheim Bobcats, Wallaceburg Tartans runners-up in SWOSSAA curling
The Blenheim Bobcats and Wallaceburg Tartans came oh-so-close to making the OFSAA curling championship.
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LEAMINGTON – The Blenheim Bobcats and Wallaceburg Tartans came oh-so-close to making the OFSAA curling championship.
The Bobcats girls and Tartans boys each suffered a one-point loss in the SWOSSAA finals Tuesday when their last rocks rolled just wide of the mark.
The Bobcats lost to the Northern Vikings 7-6 and the Tartans fell to the Kingsville Cavaliers 6-5.
Both winning teams rallied from four-point deficits.
Blenheim beat Tecumseh L’Essor 7-3 and Northern downed LaSalle Villanova 16-2 in the girls semifinals.
“It took a few ends for the Bobcats to get their read on the ice and dial in their weight, but when they did, they played well and confidently against L’Essor … and were thrilled to come away with a strong win,” coach Karen Sullivan said of the first Bobcats girls team to reach a SWOSSAA final.
“After that, something was different. They were having fun, relaxed and positive and ready to take on Northern.”
The Vikings have five players back from last year’s SWOSSAA champions.
The Bobcats have three returnees (skip Jordyn Postma, vice Scarlette Tozer and alternate Kaylie Vaughan) and two first-year curlers (lead Jordyn Burton and second Lucia Mele, an Italian exchange student).
They found the Vikings “incredibly intimidating,” Sullivan said. The Vikings’ 12-0 and 10-2 wins were the only blemishes on the Bobcats’ LKSSAA record.
In the SWOSAA final, though, the Bobcats took an early 3-0 lead and were up 6-2 after five ends. The Vikings rallied with one point in the sixth, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
“While Northern’s experience allowed them to make a comeback, the Bobcats are incredibly proud of having pushed the defending champs to have to work so hard for their repeat title,” Sullivan said. “The coaches are immensely proud of this group of girls and all that they accomplished.”
The Tartans – skip Jo Watson, vice Rogan Rosseel, second Foster Stuart and leads Oliver Hooper and Dan Lucier – enjoyed their own early lead in the boys final. They led 3-0 after two ends and 5-1 after six.
The Cavaliers drew even with a four-point seventh, then scored one in the final end.
Wallaceburg edged Leamington 4-3 and Ursuline lost to Kingsville 9-1 in the semifinals.
“It was a great season,” Tartans co-coach Pete Rountree said. “I’m really proud of both the boys and girls teams. They both showed tremendous growth.”
He thanked co-coach Tracy Bridge-Arnold, the Sydenham Community Curling Club and its members, and the players’ parents for their support.
The Tartans were third in the LKSSAA regular season. They upset second-place St. Patrick’s in a semifinal to secure a SWOSSAA berth before losing to Ursuline in the LKSSAA final.
Northern and Kingsville advance to the OFSAA championship March 20 to 23 in Kingston.
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