Skip done in Juniors; Team looking for new member

Life is filled with transitions; the jump from Junior High to High School; a switch in careers, moving to a new town—all come with a element of uncertainty. 

 

That’s what Manitoba’s Calleen Neufeld and her—now former—team are finding out.

 

After her second place finish at the Canadian Juniors in her last eligible year, Neufeld is now pondering her curling future.

 

“I haven’t been in this position for six years,” she said. “You work so hard to get up there (top of the Juniors)…now you’re back at the bottom again.”

 

She’s got no team and no certainty right now, but a multitude of paths lay ahead. 

 

“I have no plans yet…but I’ve received a couple of e-mails,” Neufeld said coyly. 

 

She’s secretive about who has contacted her but said “for sure” she’ll be playing on the Women’s circuit next year. 

 

“I wouldn’t mind not skipping for a year or two but it all depends on who I’m throwing for,” she said. “I don’t think I’m a great front ender…I might have to play third or something.”

 

While Neufeld has a new world of curling to enter, the rest of her team must now decide how they will proceed with their Junior curling careers. Sabrina Neufeld and Laryssa Grenkow are 18, and Breanne Meakin is 16 and all are now without a captain. 

 

“We just had a team meeting and we are still deciding (what to do),” Meakin said. “It’s all up in the air right now.”

 

Many questions for the ladies remain unanswered. Will someone on the team step up to skip or will they look elsewhere for a new skip? Meakin did say the three of them plan on sticking together.

 

At this point, both Neufeld and the rest of her former team are sitting back and dealing with the emotions that came with their Junior National run. The team was potentially one shot away from an extra end where they’d have had the hammer for the win.  

 

“Line was good when I let it go and weight was close…it just needed less ice,” Neufeld said about her last shot that left Newfoundland and Labrador with a draw for the win. “Yes, it does suck, but at least I can talk about it. Last year I couldn’t. It is a growing experience in itself.” 

 

Neufeld lost in the 2006 Junior final as well.  Despite the letdown of coming so close to a National title, the team is happy with their performance.

 

“I’m starting to think now that second in Canada isn’t the worst thing,” Meakin said. “It might have seemed bad at the time but it feels really good now.”

 

And the burned rock at the end of the final game? Only Sabrina saw it happen, but it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway. Neufeld said the rock was obviously stopping. 

 

“No big deal.”

 

It’s an outlook that will take these ladies far in their chosen sport.