Sherry Just wasn’t sure if she would compete in women’s curling this year. She decided to put a team together and is now competing in the provincials.
“I decided to go back to skipping a team this year,” she said. “I was on the fence about whether I would curl women’s this year or not because I focus a lot on mixed doubles. I decided it felt like the right time to put a team together.”
To bring a team together, the skip starting asking for recommendations. Hanna Anderson, who would become the lead, and Ellen Redlick, who would become the second, both of Saskatoon, were recommended by a few people and Just, who’s from Prince Albert, reached out to them.
Megan Anderson, who would become the third, was recruited at a spiel in Edmonton where the team needed a spare. A friend of Just’s, Holly Scott, recommended the third from her team, Anderson.
“By the end of the weekend we asked her if she’d be willing to stay on with our team,” Just said. “She had to figure a few things that with her family because she has young boys, but she was able to make it work.”
The team’s coach is Jim Wilson, who has represented Saskatchewan 12 times as a player or coach.
“He has lots of credentials and experience to bring to our team, so we very much value him as a coach,” Just said.
The Saskatoon Nutana team is seventh among women’s teams in Saskatchewan according to the Canadian Team Ranking System and 42nd nationally.
Just has been in the women’s provincials twice, but it is her first time as a skip.
“I think every team has the goal of the dream of wearing a green jacket at the end, but I think every team also has to realize that it’s not going to be a cakewalk to get there,” Just said.
“Just like every other team, we’re going to be taking one game at a time and just focusing on that. Really, the goal is just to make the shots and win each game and make playoffs and then re-adjust your goals to keep going to the end.”
Team Just was in Humboldt earlier this season, competing at the Women’s tour stop that took place Nov. 20 to Dec. 2.
“We really enjoyed the club and the volunteers and everyone there, so we look forward to going back for sure.”
