When the Nantyr Shores Girls Curling Team headed into the Georgian Bay regional high school tournament they were hoping to avoid Penetang, but figured that was just wishful thinking.
“They’ve been our toughest competition,” said skip Courtney Gilder, “and were the toughest going in.”
World Championship curler Glenn Howard’s daughter plays on the Penetang team.
Throughout the match, the two teams were never more than two points apart. The teams were tied after the fourth and eighth ends. It wasn’t until they played an extra end that Nantyr Shores pulled ahead to win 8-7.
“It was very difficult,” said lead Ashley Gofforth, “and very nerve racking.”
The next challenge for the girls is this week’s provincial tournament in Peterborough, where coach Dewar quipped “They’re expecting to win.”
But with 20 of the best teams from across the province in attendance, he admits it might not be so easy.
“It’ll be tough for sure,” said Gilder.
The Georgian Bay Secondary School Association is one of the stronger areas, but Gilder also lists Ottawa and Toronto as having very strong teams. The provincial championships run from Wednesday to Saturday. The teams play a four-game round robin before entering the playoff elimination rounds.
The provincial tournament may be a pressure cooker, but the Nantyr squad got used to that in the final game against Penetang at the regionals.
With the rest of that tournament finished, all eyes were on the Nantyr match with Penetang.
“They were all watching the spectacle of Ms Gilder,” said coach Jeff Shadlock. “She was a rock.”
He’s referring to Gilder’s calm under pressure when she threw the final rock to win the game. When asked what she was thinking during the shot, she answered with a laugh.
“I really have to make this or else we’ll lose.”
The team, which also includes second Kaitlyn Veitch, third Melissa Preece, and alternate Katie Cormack, came into the final undefeated and only lost a single game during their regular season.
“There’s a little curling Mecca in this area,” said Shadlock, referring to the three Curling clubs – Stroud, Cookstown, and Churchill — within Nantyr Shores’ jurisdiction. “That’s why there’s so much talent.”
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