Dylan Webster and his rinkmates had a goal of posting a perfect record in the Southern Alberta Curling Association junior men’s playdowns, with a loftier goal to follow.
So far, so good, as Webster’s Sundre crew racked up three consecutive wins at the Red Deer Curling Centre, including Saturday’s 9-5 A-event final victory over Josh Carroll of Oyen.
Meanwhile, Red Deer rinks skipped by Jocelyn Peterman and Meagan Orr won the A- and B-event finals in the four-team junior women’s competition to advance to the junior women’s/men’s provincials Jan. 11-15 at Medicine Hat.
“We definitely wanted to be the A qualifier here, and then win provincials,” said Webster, whose rink will now compete at Medicine Hat.
Webster will attend his third provincial championship. He’s also been to three Alberta juvenile finals and two Alberta Winter Games, but he’s never won a provincial title.
The third time at provincials could be lucky for Webster and his veteran quartet, which includes third Parker Konschuh — a member of Colin Hodgson’s 2011 Alberta championship team —second Jacob Ott and lead Mac Walton. All four are in their final season of junior eligibility.
“We feel we have a really good chance of winning the province, although there are a couple of strong teams in the north,” said Webster.
Webster attends the University of Calgary and his three teammates are enrolled at the University of Alberta and play in the Edmonton Super League.
“I play in a league at Calgary North Hill. We try and meet every once in awhile in Sundre to practise as a team,” said Webster.
The foursome has fared well on the Alberta junior circuit this season, winning events in Red Deer and Leduc while also competing in ‘spiels in Calgary, Lethbridge and Lloydminster.
Webster opened the SACA junior men’s finals with a 10-3 thumping of Coaldale’s Dylan Garinger, then outlasted Michael Roy of Airdrie 11-8 earlier Saturday.
The A final versus was a tight affair until the ninth end, when Carroll failed to execute his final shot and gave up a steal of two. The Oyen rink then ran out of rocks playing the 10th.
“We got lucky on that one,” said Webster, in reference to Carroll’s ninth-end miss. “ I wasn’t expecting to be up four coming home.”
Peterman and her Red Deer Curling Centre supporting cast of third Brittany Tran and front-enders Rebecca Konschuh and Kristine Anderson, defeated Courtney Missikewitz of Airdrie 9-4 Saturday afternoon and then beat Orr 8-6 in the evening A-event final.
Orr, who has Heather Rogers at third, Lindsey More at second and Sarah More tossing lead stones, opened with a 9-6 win over Kayla Ramstad of Lethbridge and then bounced Ramstad 14-3 in the B final.
Missikewitz beat Ramstad 8-7 in the C final. Kyler Kleibrink of Okotoks earned C-event honours in the men’s division with an 11-6 victory over Carroll Sunday evening.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com