Curling Their Way to Nationals – Rachel & Seran’s Story
When most people think of school sport, they picture netball, swimming, maybe a bit of athletics. Curling? Not so much. But for Year 7 student Rachel and Year 6 student Seran, it has become something pretty special, and they are about to take it to the national stage.
Rachel’s Journey
Rachel’s journey into curling started at home. Her parents used to play and coached her for a few years. It’s not exactly a booming sport in WA – the only curling club in the state plays out of Cockburn Ice Arena, but that did not stop her.
Travelling to New Zealand’s South Island last year for a curling training camp got her hooked! She wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but by the end of it, she loved it. The training, the friendships, the ice, it all just clicked.
Taking part in the WA League, plus the dedication she showed at the NZ camp, caught the attention of both the Australian and New Zealand Curling Organisations. They saw something in her and offered her a spot on the national junior team, ‘Westoria’!
“I really like just socialising with people who enjoy playing curling.” Rachel said.
Seran’s Story
For Seran, curling started as a curiosity sparked by her dad and a glimpse of the sport on TV. But it really took off when her family lived in Canada, where she joined a local curling league and learned the ropes.
When they moved back to Australia, her skills didn’t go unnoticed. She was invited to join Team Westoria after being spotted through WA’s curling circles. “Being there with my teammates is the best part,” Seran says. “It’s what makes it so much fun.”
Game On – Nationals Are Calling
Fast forward to the upcoming school holidays, Rachel and Seran are heading back to New Zealand to compete in the Junior Women’s National Curling Competition, which starts in July.
Rachel shared, “Going to nationals was actually one of my dreams!’
They’ll be playing for Team Westoria, a team combining players from WA and Victoria. The team has never played together before, so it’s going to be a big learning experience – and an exciting one. And if they win? They’ll qualify for internationals in Norway. No pressure, right?
Resilience and the Courage to Try Something Different
Rachel and Seran’s journey is a brilliant example of what happens when you give something new a go, even when it’s a little out of the ordinary. Curling might not be the most common choice, but it’s taken them across the country, and maybe, one day, across the world.
Their story embodies courage and resilience. It’s also a story of confidence and belief – sticking with something and saying yes when an opportunity knocks.
We love seeing students pursue their passions, whether that’s on stage, in science labs, or yes, even on the ice.
We’re incredibly proud of Rachel and Seran, and we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.
- CurlingAustralia, Featured, GirlsInSport, JuniorCurling, NationalCompetition, NewZealandCurling, StudentSuccess, TeamWestoria
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
