While the junior curling program in Humboldt has been steadily increasing over the past three years, organizer Brian Wempe is thrilled with the significant jump in numbers for the 2012-2013 season.
"We have two senior teams and four junior teams from Humboldt," said Wempe. "We also have two Englefeld teams, one from LeRoy, three from Muenster and two from Annaheim."
Out-of-town teams are no stranger to the Humboldt curling club's junior program and Wempe is over the moon that Humboldt Public School has gotten involved this year.
It is the first time the school has participated in the curling program.
"I've been going to the schools for years to encourage kids to curl," he said. "This year, teachers Dave Hill, Stacey Bruce and Pauline Fontaine got on board and we have 20 students from the public school curling."
For the first two to three weeks of the season, Wempe teaches the students the basics of the game.
"Once the teachers realized they had the ability to help the kids, they took over the program, which is great," he enthused.
The program began in mid-November and he expects it will go to February, as long as there is interest.
When approached by principal Hill, public school teachers Bruce and Fontaine adopted a "Let's do it" attitude and for the first time the school offered curling as an extra curricular activity.
"We started with 20 students but we lost some to basketball so are down to 16," said Fontaine.
Both Fontaine and Bruce are fun curlers and saw this as an opportunity to introduce their students to the sport.
"Initially we had an overwhelming response," said Fontaine, "Even those kids we lost to basketball had a lot of fun."
"We are super excited to have our kids curling," said Bruce. "We look forward to growing the numbers not only here at this school but also at the other schools."
The coaches spoke highly of the help they received from the Humboldt Curling Club and the parents who have stepped forward to volunteer their time and expertise to the students.
"With the help we've had, we've been able to have an adult at both ends of the ice helping both the skip and the thrower," said Bruce.
The Monday after school program has been very successful in terms of involvement and for the first time, two mixed teams from HPS will take to the ice for the Horizon School Division's pre-district playoffs in Wadena at the end of the month.
"We look forward to growing the numbers not only here at our school but also at the other schools in the city," said Bruce.
The senior students hit the ice Tuesdays and Thursdays.
LeRoy students Haley Buhs and Stephanie Schoettler have been curling for eight and four years respectively. Buhs' family got her started in the sport, whereas Schoettler picked up a broom for the first time when the school decided to put together a girls' team.
"It's a nice activity to do," said Buhs. "I don't play hockey so it's really the only winter sport I can do."
"When the school decided to put together a girls' team, I decided to give it a try," smiled Schoettler. "I like to try everything once. It's fun and easy to catch on to."
Both agreed it is a good time spent with friends where no one really cares if you make a mistake. They also noted you don't need to be athletic to curl.
"It's not like you have to have a six-pack or something like that to curl," laughed Buhs.
That good time is evident by the amount of laughter heard throughout the rink during the games.
"The louder the noise, the more fun the kids are having," noted Wempe.
Wempe cited the joint facility use agreement between the City of Humboldt and the schools as being instrumental in the increase in curlers.
"Once you remove that financial barrier, it opens up a lot of doors for kids who may not have been able to get involved before. It is a good thing all the way round," he said.
While two junior teams are a start, Wempe believes for a community the size of Humboldt, that number should be significantly higher.
With HPS involved, Wempe's goal is to get St. Augustine and St. Dominic Schools onboard in the near future.
"It's not like the other towns where all the kids are in one school," he said. "In those places, everyone curls. Here it seems to be only children of curlers get involved. Who knows a child of non-curling parents may find that he or she likes it and will take up the sport?"
Wempe has already noticed an increase in interest, as students are now curling in some of the club's evening leagues. It is a trend he hopes will continue.
