Williams Lake youth curlers Kelsey Camille and Talana Brown-John can’t stop smiling after bringing home silver medals from the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games.
The girls, who competed at the Games in Quesnel Feb. 22-25 on the Girls U15 team representing Cariboo-East Zone 8, both agreed it was an amazing experience.
“I loved just meeting people from around the province and making new friends,” said Brown-John, who has been training for the past eight years at the Williams Lake Curling Club.
Camille has been training for the past one-and-a-half years at the local club and agrees it’s the people in the sport that makes it so appealing.
“I just love the sport and the people … in leagues you get to meet everyone and play with people that you haven’t played with before.”
Their Winter Games teammates included Joey Webb, Lexi Shymanski and Chloe Kenzie.
Brayden Tyrell, a curler for six years, was recognized with the most sportsmanlike award at the games. He said the Games were challenging, but a great experience overall.
Coaching the youth was a team effort.
In Williams Lake, Rick Miller heads up the junior curling program at the Williams Lake Curling Club.
He coached the girls and boys locally, and assist coached the boys team as well at the Games.
“I see the face of the future in the kids,” Miller said of why he coaches. “I mean, how are we going to keep anything going in any sport if we don’t involve the juniors and the young kids … this is the future of curling and we need to be there for them.”
He added the youth were great ambassadors of curling and of the local club at the Games.
Brown-John said she’s grateful for the support and camaraderie of everyone she’s played against and competed with over the years.
“The bonds formed with my teammates, especially with Kelsey, underscore the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving success on the ice.”
The girls expressed gratitude for their sponsors and their heartfelt appreciation to the Williams Lake Curling Club for fostering such a welcoming environment.
“Their openness to junior curlers like us participating in adult leagues and bonspiels has been instrumental in nurturing our talent and promoting curling at all levels.”
