KELOWNA, B.C. – For the first time in program history, the Gryphons women's curling team has reached the podium at the national level. On Wednesday (March 23) in Kelowna, B.C., the Gryphons women's team defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 11-7 in the bronze medal match at the 2016 CIS-Curling Canada University Championships. With the result, the Gryphons women's team finish the 2016 season with a pair of bronze medals after having also earned bronze at the OUA Championships as well.
The 8-team tournament saw each team play a total of seven round robin matches. The Gryphons, who entered the tournament as the lowest seeded team in the field, found themselves sitting in 1st place overall after posting an impressive 5-2 record during the round robin. Highlighting the team's strong play during the round robin was an incredible comeback victory in the team's final round robin game against the University of New Brunswick. Trailing 8-1 after 4 ends, the Gryphons mounted a comeback for the ages that ended with the Gryphons coming out on top 10-9.
In the semi-finals, the Gryphons found themselves on the cusp of booking a spot in the gold medal game as they led the Alberta Pandas 6-5 after 9 ends. However, the defending CIS Champion Pandas would score 3 in the 10th end to seal the victory and send the Gryphons off to the bronze medal match. In the battle for the bronze versus Dalhousie, the Gryphons once again proved to be queen's of the comeback. This time, the Gryphons found themselves trailing 7-2 after 7 ends. After scoring two in the 8th and 9th, the Gryphons would tack on one more in the 10th to knot things at 7-7. In the 11th end, a dramatic steal of 4 propelled the Gryphons to an 11-7 victory, capping a memorable week out west of the Gryphons women's curling team.
Third year head coach
Byron Scott afterwards added, "the girls exhibited great character and perseverance throughout the tournament. In what was arguably one of the strongest CIS women's fields in recent years, with several Canadian and World champion athletes, the Gryphons proved they belong among the elite university teams in this country."
All five of the players who represented Guelph at the CIS Championships are eligible to return next season. The Alberta Pandas, who defeated Guelph in the semi's, would go on to win gold by defeating the hosts Thompson Rivers 5-4. On the men's side meanwhile, the Laurier Golden Hawks took home gold with a 7-4 win over the Alberta Golden Bears. Both gold medal winners will represent Canada at FISU's 28
th Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Jan. 28 – Feb. 8, 2017).
Championship Website
Gryphons Women's Curling Roster
Head Coach: Byron Scott (3
rd year)
| NAME |
ELIG. YR |
PROGRAM |
HOMETOWN |
| Jestyn Murphy |
2 |
Biological Sciences |
Mississauga, ON |
| Breanna Rozon |
2 |
Real Estate Management |
Georgetown, ON |
| Melanie Ebach |
2 |
Bachelor of Science- PBC |
Toronto, ON |
| Jacinda Schieck |
2 |
Leadership and Organization Management |
Drayton, ON |
| Natalie Hofmann |
1 |
Molecular Biology and Genetics/Ecology |
Sydenham, ON |
GRYPHONS ROUND ROBIN SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, MARCH 20
GUELPH vs BROCK –
WON 5-3
GUELPH vs ALBERTA –
LOST 7-2 (Conceded)
MONDAY, MARCH 21
GUELPH vs THOMPSON RIVERS –
WON 9-4
GUELPH vs DALHOUSIE –
WON 8-5
GUELPH vs LAURIER –
LOST 10-6 (Conceded)
TUESDAY, MARCH 22
GUELPH vs BRANDON –
WON 4-2
GUELPH vs U.N.B. –
WON 10-9
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
SEMI-FINALS GUELPH vs ALBERTA -
LOST 8-6
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH – GUELPH vs DALHOUSIE –
WON 11-7
