The story and success of a group

COMMENCE CURLING THE

Seniors Sam Addison, Roland LaBonte, Jake Shelton and Tomi Zigo hold their brooms during their curling competition. They are currently not playing, as their season starts in February. “It’s no pressure, and it’s good to have a nice competition,” Zigo said. (Photo courtesy of Jake Shelton) Curling team discusses how they formed and their future

KIRAN VARADACHARI

health & sports staff

Laughter and cheers echo throughout the Creve Coeur Ice Arena as the Ladue curling team prepares for a game. Rather than focusing on competitive success however, curling is more about fun and enjoyment for four students at Ladue.

The Ladue Curling Club formed two years ago through the efforts of seniors Jake Shelton, Roland LaBonte,

Tomislav Zigo and Sam Addison with the hopes of spending time together and trying something new. Rather than practicing multiple times per week, the team only competes in one game each Saturday night from February through April, lasting approximately one to two hours. Their season is played under the supervision of the

St. Louis Curling Club, and consists of a five-game exhibition season against other St. Louis-area schools with a championship tournament as the conclusion. “It was odd at the beginning, but 30 HEALTH & SPORTS it’s always been awesome to get to spend time with friends on a Saturday night,” Zigo said. “Curling is a pretty casual sport for the high schools that participate, so everyone has a good time while we try something new.”

Although these seniors made the most of the opportunities high school provided, their inspiration to start a curling team proved essential in finding an alternate way to hang out together. Due to the niche setting and supplies needed to curling, the seniors had to take matters into their own hands.

“We were looking for a different way to spend our evenings, and when the idea came about we were intrigued,” Shelton said. “My dad used to play in an adult league, and without him, we would have never even thought of the idea. My dad got us set up with the basics, and the idea took off from there.”

Using the fundamentals they were taught, the newly formed club won multiple games in the exhibitions, they were seeded high and eventually

made it to the championship game before losing. While they now believe playing was the right choice, some members of the team were initially uncertain of whether or not it would be worth it. “At first, I was skeptical,” LaBonte said. “I was unsure that it was something I wanted to do, but they needed another player. In the end, I gave it a shot, and I am so glad I did because we always have a great time. This experience has definitely brought us closer together.” Regardless of their initial doubts, the team members were successful in their desires to broaden their horizons. In the future, the team is looking forward to seeing if other Ladue students can continue the club. “We had a handful of underclassmen ask us about playing, but due to limits on team sizes, that wasn’t going to work,” Shelton said. “Hopefully, they follow through and keep the team going in the future because if they make the most of it, it will be an experience they never forget.” p SPREAD DESIGN BY ERIN TURKIELTAUB | KATIE HOLLAND