The Yorkton Regional High School boys' curling team is off to bigger and better things-again.
The senior curling tournament of Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association (SHSAA) was held over the weekend at the local curling club.
Led by skip Paul Toth, and three coaches to help them along the way, the YRHS boys' team went into extra ends and came out of it with a 7-5 win on home ice over Esterhazy.
Cindy Smith, part of a threesome coaching staff, said it was hard to go into overtime curling, but said she and the other two coaches had confidence in the orange coming through.
Despite holding a lead and then watching Esterhazy score on their last rock.
It was going into extra ends
"Haha, it was tense," she said with a laugh.
"We had three coaches on the edge."
Now they are all heading to Foam Lake for regional playdowns.
Toth told the paper they will be ready.
"We are going to Foam Lake. We need to figure out the ice quick."
Following an overtime match on Saturday afternoon against an Esterhazy team that would not lay down and roll over, Toth added that winning was not the slightest bit easy.
"It was nervewracking," admitted the skip who has been playing several positions on the YRHS senior football team in 2011.
"We played good. We had our weights down good. We played a good draw game."
The Yorkton Raiders were taken into extra ends when Esterhazy sent it into extra time with their last stone to tie it at 5-5.
"This last one was the closest," said Toth, wearing a gold medal around his neck
"We are going to regional playdowns."
Mrs. Smith added that Toth had his own cheering section in the curling club's lobby, couldn't stop smiling after the dust had settled on the YRHS victory.
"This gold medal game was really a highlight and we commend the Esterhazy team," she beamed.
"What a strong team these boys are," she said with a beaming smile.
"It is a pleasure to coach them."
She added that she is looking forward to representing the orange of the Regional at the regionals, scheduled for this weekend at Foam Lake.
Mrs. Smith added that it wasn't easy to advance and win.
The YRHS boys team has been consistent to this point and it should work to their advantage this weekend," she points out.
"This team is strong and consistent. It's the small things. Don't crack under pressure."
Mrs. Smith was accompanied by Lana Stanek-Sebastian and Gerald Shymko.
The team's second shooter is Darren Tillman who also shared duties with Brandon Campbell, Brennan Peleshytyk shoots third and Ryan Nagy leads.
For more pictures view Photo Gallery.
