It was a little more than a year ago that Whitney More experienced a curling dream.
The Red Deer native tossed second stones for Val Sweeting’s Edmonton-based foursome while representing Alberta in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women’s championship. Three weeks previous to the 2010 Scotties at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., the Sweeting rink captured the provincial title with an upset win over Olympic Games medalist Shannon Kleibrink.
“It was an awesome experience last year and people always talk about how Alberta is one of the toughest provinces to come out of,” More said on Saturday at the Capri Centre, where she was presented with the Red Deer Advocate Open Female Athlete of the Year Award for 2010 during the Red Deer Community Sport Awards dinner.
Lyndon Rush, who won a bronze medal in the four-man bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, was the recipient of the Advocate Open Male award.
“If you look at our provincials this year, we had something like seven Olympic medalists in the field,” More continued. “To be able to go to a national event in curling last year was phenomenal, and to come out of Alberta was even a bit more of a feat for us. It was a great experience.”
More and her teammates finished with a 4-7 record at the Scotties and this year returned to the provincials but fell short in their bid to get back to the national championship.
“We had a bit of a tough season, but we’re looking at making a couple of changes and we’ll see what happens from there,” said the fourth-year nursing student at RDC. “The changes haven’t been finalized yet just because it’s pretty close to the end of the season.”
Regardless of whatever changes in personnel or positions may come about, More said the team will concentrate on qualifying for the 2013 Olympic trials. The Winter Olympics will be held the following year in Russia.
“The Olympic run is coming up in the next couple of years so the focus is on that now and trying to build towards the Olympics in 2014,” said More.
“The curling process (for Olympic qualifying) is a different process. It’s not just strictly what you do the season before. It takes a while to build your credentials. We look forward to that and trying to make ourselves the best team we can be.”
More insisted the team has a sense of self assurance as an ally.
“I think we can look to the future with a lot of confidence moving forward,” she said. “Just the bit of experience we do have now helps with the confidence level. We feel we have the tools we need to beat these top teams now.”
The other finalists for the Open Female award were RDC Queens volleyball player Jessica Clutton and Olympic luger Reagan Lauscher.
Rush, who competed in the world bobsled championship in Germany during the weekend, expressed his appreciation by way of a video address.
“This is a special honour because the people of Central Alberta have meant so much to me with their support,” he said. “2010 was a good year for me and it was made possible because of you guys in Central Alberta. Thanks a lot and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
Rush, who has won two bronze medals and one silver in the World Cup circuit this year, piloted the Canada 1 bobsleigh to sixth place in the world championship on Sunday.
Golfer Mitch Evanecz and RDC Kings volleyball player Mitch Irvine were the other finalists for the Open Male award.
• The Hawkes Oilfield Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award was presented to gymnast Mark Armstrong. Rugby star and rower Grayden Bowd and swimmer Marshal Parker were also nominated for the under-19 award.
Fencer Karis Langvand was the recipient of the Gord’s North Star Sports Junior Female Athlete of the Year Award. Also in the running were Kaitlyn Lomsnes (ringette, soccer, school sports) and archer Mckenna Oleksuik.
• The Hi-Way 9 Express Ltd. Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award went to golfer Tom Skinner, with tennis player Marla Wyten taking the female version of the award, sponsored by Sutter Fund.
The other male and female finalists were Jack McAuley (hockey) and Bill Wyten (tennis), and Ruby Munier (cross-country skiing) and Ella Saywer (carpet bowling, bocci).
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com