ESTEVAN — Lake Alma's young curler claimed the SaskMilk Triples Cup in Unity back in March and is now preparing for the next step.
After an undefeated U15 provincial championship run in March with Team Cool Shots, Andrea Fradette, who competes out of the Estevan Curling Club, is gearing up for a new challenge: competing at the U18 Provincial Curling Championships in Prince Albert, starting Dec. 27.
Now part of a southeast team led by skip Olivia Fonstad from Oxbow, Fradette steps into her role as lead with enthusiasm.
"I think we'll have a pretty good chance at provincials," she said. "We all work really well together and have good team dynamics."
Fradette's team includes third Amy Fredette, also from Lake Alma, and second April McMillen from Estevan. Despite being the youngest on the team, Andrea Fradette fits in seamlessly.
"We're all just one year apart, so it's not too much of a difference," she explained.
However, the transition from U15 to U18 competition hasn't been without its stress, as Fradette, who is 14 years old, will be among the youngest players in the tournament.
"That does create a lot more pressure for me, but it should still be fun," she said.
Coach Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud, who also manages the Estevan Curling Club, praised Fradette's talent and work ethic.
"Andy has really flourished and stepped up moving from the U15 ranks into the U18 ranks," Ziehl Grimsrud said. "She's one of the youngest curlers in U18, and she's doing a very good job."
Ziehl Grimsrud highlighted Fradette's skillset, calling her "a very good sweeper" with a "very good sense of weight calling."
"It's impressive for someone her age to have that skillset; she is a very good thrower, and she can throw the weights for hits," Ziehl Grimsrud added. "And doing that accurately is not always easy. It's a skill that you have to develop. And she really, really has an overall skillset that makes her a very good curler and a very good teammate."
The team's preparations have been rigorous, with frequent practices and two upcoming bonspiels, one in Moose Jaw and another in Estevan, before provincials.
"We were working on consistency and communication," Fradette said after a practice last week.
Fradette's journey in curling began as a family tradition.
"My parents curled in Lake Alma, and then we decided to try curling in Estevan," she shared.
Fradette has been involved with curling for about six years. Competitive curling became part of her life three years ago when she entered the U15 circuit.
"It's just enjoyable to play," she said. "All the people are nice, and it's really fun."
Her first provincial experience proved memorable and motivating.
"It was our first time curling together, the three of us at provincials, and we went undefeated throughout that whole event," she recalled.
The family continues to be a source of inspiration for Fradette. Her sister also competed at provincials last year, adding to the curling legacy and is a part of their U18 team.
As the U18 provincials approach, the team's focus is on having great showing and strong results.
"Our goal is to make it to the finals at provincials and to make the playoffs in all our events before provincials," Fradette said, adding that the big goal, of course, is to win.
"We're practising hard for the month of December," Ziehl Grimsrud said. "We want to do well at provincials and we have another whole schedule for the new year."
