Myer rules SOSSA boys curling

The A.N. Myer Marauders boys curling team wasted little time taking control of the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championship game Thursday at the Niagara Falls Curling Club.

Myer, which went 6-0 in league play, scored three in the third end to take a 4-1 lead and then stole four in the fourth end on the way to a 10-1 five-end victory over the Saint Michael Mustangs.

Myer’s team is made up of Claire Fish, vice Remy Pietrangelo (who throws skip rocks), second Ashton Butt, lead Evan Prejza and spare Sonny Lovell.

“We had a lot of fun. We were really grateful that we had amazing opponents and I know their skip, Phynn (Gallacher), and I have a ton of respect for him. He’s a good curler and we were really fortunate,” Fish said. “As a team, we also played well and had great communication.”

Pietrangelo was on a rink that went 3-4 at the under-18 provincials and Fish and Pietrangelo placed fourth at the Ontario Winter Games in under-21 mixed doubles.

Pietrangelo is vice and shoots skip rocks for obvious reasons.

“He is amazing sweeper and thrower and it was a good idea having him throw last just because he is so reliable and his throws are always amazing. We both know how to call a game pretty well so it just made sense to do it that way,” she said.

Fish, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student, is looking forward to her first trip to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships March 19-22 in Sarnia. Everyone but her on the rink competed at OFSAA last year and ended up placing seventh.

“I’m excited. I know last year they made quarters so somewhere around there would be amazing. Also, I just want to learn from it and grow from the experience.”

Away from high school curling, Fish and Pietrangelo have an upcoming doubles event that could qualify them for a bonspiel in Europe.

In the semifinals, Myer defeated Westlane (skip Marko Nguyn, vice Andy Trac, second Eric Nguyn, lead Daniel Rahal and spare/piper for SOSSA finals David Chang) by an 11-4 margin.

Saint Michael’s (Gallacher, vice Immanuel Emareyo, second Paulina Labarta, lead Nolan Wallace and spare Emily Park) advanced to the finals with a 6-4 win over Eden (Hugh Elstone, Gavin Gaston, William Honwood, Jacob Moyer, Tavish Stewart, Alistair Tomori and Isaiah Vanderkooy). Saint Michael went 5-1 in league play with its only loss coming as the result of a forfeit.

Gallacher, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student who curled at the under-18 provincials with Pietrangelo, knew his team was the underdog coming into the game.

“They had more experience, for sure, and they outplayed us today.”

Gallacher knows what makes Myer successful.

“Practise pays off. They are here almost four days a week and we are here once a week and that makes a difference.”

He enjoyed the opportunity to play against Pietrangelo.

“It’s fun. It’s kind of all jokes and stuff.”