CREDIT: COURTESY OF FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
The Fanshawe Falcon's women's curling team is now the two-time defending OCAA provincial champions.

The Fanshawe Falcons’ women’s curling team won the gold at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championships on February 15 at Fleming College in Peterborough, beating the Humber Hawks 8-6. The team is now the two-time defending OCAA provincial champions, having won the gold in 2014 and 2013.

The Falcons tied for first with the Hawks with a record of 6-1 in the round robin, having lost 7-6 against the Hawks. The team then won 7-6 in the semifinal against the Mohawk Mountaineers.

“We had a really good tournament … at the OCAAs,” Falcons curling coach Barry Westman said.

He says he is particularly proud about beating the Hawks in the finals. Not only were the Hawks the only team the Falcons lost against in the round robin, but it was also the first in four games against the team that Fanshawe won.

“It was a really good win in that regard,” he said. “We’re kind of hoping that we maybe get to face again at the [Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association] in the final there.”

The team consisted of skip Shannon Kee, vice Rachelle Vink, second Christina Borgs, lead Tess Bobbie and alternate Julie Clinton. Kee was named a championship first team all-star, and Bobbie and Vink were named to the second team.

“Our team has worked really hard this year,” Vink said. “We played some good curling and came out on top.”

The Falcon’s men’s team won bronze at the OCAA, losing 6-3 to the Fleming Knights – the home team – in the semifinal. The team finished the round robin with a record of 6-2.

“Obviously, once we made the playoffs, it would’ve been nice to have won that semifinal game and move on the finals,” said vice Curtis Easter. “But third place, looking back at it now, is a really great accomplishment.”

The men’s team played eight games in three days and had some late nights and early mornings, coach Westman said. He said it was a grueling week but that the team was pleased with the outcome.

The Falcons’ men’s team was made up of Easter, skip Kelly Schuh, second Jackson Cox, lead Billy Brian and alternate Matt Pretty. Easter was named a championship first team all-star, and Cox was named to the second team.

“To be voted first all-star was a huge surprise,” Easter said. “I thought I played well, but I didn’t think I played that well the whole week. It’s just really nice to be acknowledged by my peers and fellow teammates.”

The two teams will be competing in Olds, Alberta on March 25 to 28 for the 2015 CCAA championship.

“You never know what the other provinces’ teams are going to be like until you get there,” Westman said. “But our goal is being in the playoffs and see what happens from there.”