Team Thompson has walked away with the B.C.’s curling crown after besting the competition at the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian Women’s Championship in Coquitlam last weekend.
The rink, which features skip Karla Thompson, a high school teacher from Kamloops, defeated Team Scott in the finals, wrapping up a week at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex that saw the team go 5-2.
Team Scott, which is led by six-time B.C. champion skip Kelly Scott, was higher in the standings going into the finals, finishing up with a 6-1 record.
“We worked hard all year and it has paid off,” said Thompson.
She was joined in the winner’s circle with teammates Kristen Recksiedler, third, Tracey Lavery, second, and Trysta Vandale, the only Tri-City athlete competing in the competition, at lead. The club is coached by Jeff Richard.
Team Thompson started the tournament off with a strong start, besting Team Russett 8-5 in the opening draw last Tuesday. They followed up with a 9-6 win over Team Gushulak and a 9-7 win over Team Knezevic the next day and kept the winning streak alive on Thursday with victories over Team Van Osch (7-4) and Team Wark (7-6).
However, things did not go smoothly for the team on Friday, when they dropped a match against Team Gibson 11-7 and Team Scott 8-7.
However, they were able to stay in contention following an 11-10 victory over Team Scott on Saturday, which set the stage for the final showdown with Team Scott on Sunday.
Thompson has been around the game for several years.
She went to the nationals with Team Alison MacInnes in 2008 and will now represent B.C. at in Grand Prairie next month, a pre-qualifying round with the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
@gmckennaTC
