Sullivan wins regional curling playdowns

It was two SD83 schools and brother versus brother in the final of the 2023 Thompson-Okanagan Regional High School Curling Playdowns held at Kamloops Curling Club on the weekend!

Jackson and Sullivan teams both went undefeated in their respective pools to meet head-to-head for a chance to represent the Thompson-Okanagan region at the provincials, slated for February 22-25 in Terrace.

At first it looked like it was going to be an easy win for the more experienced senior rink at the mid-point in the game as the Jackson crew was down 6-0. However, the Jackson team rallied in the second half, and claimed four points in the next few ends. By the time it was the eighth, they were right back in the game and had set themselves up to steal two to tie the game and send it into extra ends!

Sullivan ended the hope with the skip taking out the two rocks, giving Sullivan the win and the gold and Jackson settling for silver.

Sullivan’s rink is comprised of lead Brayan Morton, second Ryan Cowell, third Austin Tomlinson, skip Kaiden Beck, and coached by Andrew Cowell while Jackson’s lead Eli Rands, second Alex Watkins, third Danielle Monteith, skip Nolan Beck, and coached by Scott Beck.

“It was pretty exciting to have two separate teams and have them both go undefeated,” said Scott Beck. “I’m really proud of all of them. Hopefully Salmon Arm can repeat as provincial champions!”

Last year Jackson won the BC Championships with Kaiden Beck, Nolan Beck, Alex Watkins, Nic Metcalfe and coach Darryl Horne. However, this year team members are at different schools (Kaiden Beck is at Sullivan and Nolan and Alex at Jackson). The two brothers are skips of their respective rinks.