Photo courtesy Team Skrlik Facebook

By Curtis Galbraith

Curling

“It’s so cool. It’s so exciting!” says Nampa-raised curler after winning the provincial women’s title

Jan 24, 2023 | 3:27 PM

A curler raised in Nampa says being the Alberta Scotties champions is “so cool” and “so exciting.”

Kayla Skrlik led her team on an unbeaten run through the round-robin and a 9-8 win over Casey Scheidegger’s team from Lethbridge in Sunday’s final in Wetaskiwin.

Skrlik had to make a tough double take-out on the last shot of the game for the win.

“Honestly, I saw it right away. I think Gerri (Gerri-Lynn Ramsey) and I had discussed it before Casey threw and if there was a double, we were going to try to make it no matter what.”

“Luckily there was just enough room to make the double, so it was an easy one for me to call, not an easy one for me to convince the team to throw.”

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Skrlik says the only other option was a draw to the pin to tie and force an extra end.

She adds she spent the first day after the final in shock that they had won.

Skrlik attributes the unbeaten run to “just good curling.”

“Brittany (Tran) had an amazing week, our third. She played unreal all week, so that was definitely a key moment. “:

“We were really gelling as a team. We knew that was going to be the case going into the week because we had really gelled this season.”

Skrlik played in her first women’s provincials three years ago. She says the COVID year meant more time to practice. The team is also in its second year together.

“Prior to that I hadn’t had a team stick together, mostly because I was playing junior, and people aged out at weird times, and we’d always have to replace a player.”

“To have a team consistently for two years in a row and have some great coaching with Shannon (Kleibrink) and Crystal (Webster), it was really helpful.”

Skrlik says it “means everything” to win this title with her sister Ashton on the team.

“Ashton and I only have not curled together one year, so I don’t think I even saw it any other way than to do it with Ashton by my side, to win everything that we have.”

“I think you can see in the video she’s the first one to come up and congratulate me and hug me. It was a really good moment. There’s nobody else I’d rather win with than Ashton.”

Team Skrlik will represent Alberta at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts from February 17 to 26 in Kamloops.