PACWEST to the House

For the first time since 2020 the PACWEST will have representation at the CCAA national curling championship.

This year the tournament will be hosted in New Brunswick on the campus of the University of New Brunswick and the Capital Winter Club in Fredericton.   It opens on Tuesday with teams from across the CCAA and USports.

The PACWEST team is compiled of four student athletes, two from Okanagan College, one from Camosun and one from VIU.  They are coached with Will Sutton who joins Ryan Watters below to discuss how the team came together, how they are being coached and how they will gel prior to arriving at the national championship.

The student athletes representing the PACWEST answered some questions for us to get to know them better:

Sasha Wilson – Camosun Chargers

What program are you enrolled in?
I’m in the Criminal Justice Program.

What is your position on the PACWEST team?
I will be Skipping the team

How long have you been curling?
I have been curling for nine years

Who inspired you to get into the sport?
My great grandparents curled, my grandma curled and my mom curl’s so it was my family that inspired me to curl.

Ever played in a National championship before?
Yes, I competed in the 2023 junior nationals in Rouyn-Noranda Quebec as team B.C

Ever been to New Brunswick?
I have never been there but I’m so excited to go

Alex Ashton – VIU Mariners

What program are you enrolled in?
The Recreation and Sport Management program

What is your position on the PACWEST Team?
I will be playing Vice for the team.

How long have you been curling?
I am completing my 21st year curling.

Who inspired you to get into the sport?
My family was a large influence on me. As young as I can remember, my parents would bring my brother and me to the curling club. Greater influence stems from my dad's parents who had also curled most of their lives. Being a very curious kid, I tried many activities which led my parents to sign me up for curling.

Ever played in a national championship before (any sport)?
No. This will be my first national event of any kind. I have however competed at provincial events, an OCAA event, and WCT events.

Ever been to New Brunswick? If so, why?
I grew up in Ottawa and when I was 11, my family went on a road trip to PEI.  One place we explored is Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, before crossing Confederation Bridge.

Tayla Ford – Okanagan Coyotes

What program are you enrolled in?
Business Administration: Marketing Diploma program

What is your position on the PACWEST Team?
I will be playing second for the team.

How long have you been curling?
I've been curling for 11 years.

Who inspired you to get into the sport?
I grew up watching a few relatives play in a few bonspiels, and so I had some exposure to the sport. When I started to understand what was going on, it sparked my interest. My Dad was my main influence and encouraged me to give it a shot. (no pun intended)

Ever played in a national championship before (any sport)?
No, this will be my first national event!

Ever been to New Brunswick? If so, why?
It will be my first time traveling to the other side of Canada! The furthest I've ever been East in Canada is Cypress hills, Saskatchewan lol

Lauren Cochrane – Okanagan Coyotes

What program are you enrolled in?
Business Administration program

What is your position on the PACWEST Team?
I play Lead position on the team.

How long have you been curling?
This is my 7th year curling.

Who inspired you to get into the sport?
My mom always had curling on tv when I was growing up and I decided to open my horizons to something new by joining the Kelowna Junior program before getting on a team and traveling to (and winning) the 2020 BC Winter Games.

Ever played in a national championship before (any sport)?
A year ago exactly, I had the amazing experience of competing in the 2023 Canada Winter Games in PEI

Ever been to New Brunswick? If so, why?
While in PEI our team took the day before we left to drive across the Confederation Bridge to see Nova Scotia for the day. So yes, but it was for roughly 20 minutes, I look forward to seeing more of the province.