The fourth and final year of Monica Tanguay’s university curling career with the Guelph Gryphons was hanging in the balance.
After a hard-fought tournament, the Shawville native’s team found itself in the bronze medal game at Ontario’s university curling championships last weekend.
After a tight 10 ends against the Queen’s University Gaels, the score was tied at the end of regular play. The game was about to go into extra ends — curling’s equivalent of overtime.
Tanguay, who is first in the order, prepared to throw her rocks, knowing the stakes were high. If the Gryphons win, they get their first podium finish since 2016 and a ticket to the U Sports national championships. If they lose, they go home with nothing.
She promptly put two in the house, giving her team the edge. Their opponents parried with two rocks of their own, but Tanguay’s teammate Abbey Parkinson executed a double, knocking both opposing rocks out of the house.
This was all the insurance the Gryphons needed. They took three rocks in the extra end, ensuring the podium finish and trip to nationals.
The feeling after winning the bronze? “Pure and utter excitement,” said Tanguay. “I think we were the most excited team there by far.”
The enthusiasm, she said, comes from having been a member of the team for four years and seeing how this commitment, from her as well as her teammates, strengthened the team and put it on the map.
“We definitely improved the whole program and kind of put a spotlight on it in the university,” she said. “Our group stayed consistent [ . . . ] it’s really cool doing a sport with four or five girls that you’re so close with.”
Tanguay, who started curling in middle school at the Shawville Curling Club, said she attributes this success to her experience playing against the town’s best curlers.
“Their ability and knowledge of the game I feel really helped me understand it more than maybe I would have just playing with people my age,” she said, adding that the club has been supportive in giving her ice time, letting her join leagues, and generally being a solid home base.
“The club has truly supported me becoming the curler I am today,” she said.
Ian MacKechnie, former president of the club, saw Tanguay come up through the ranks and got to work closely with her when a spot opened up on his Wednesday night competitive team.
“She was probably the youngest at the time, and it was good, it was nice to have someone young in there who wanted to learn,” he said, adding that she was curious about the game and wanted to get better.
“She’s gone on ahead and done really good things,” he said, adding that he will be rooting for her at nationals.
Tanguay, who was a multi-sport athlete growing up, said she enjoys the precision of curling, but it didn’t come easily at first.
“I went on the ice at curling and it was the first sport I wasn’t good at naturally right off the bat,” she said. “ It’s so precise and accurate that it’s a lot of hard work. I really had to prove to myself and others that I could do it.”
Outside of curling, Tanguay said she recently got accepted into teacher’s college, and is considering pursuing a career in education.
But for now her sights are set on Lethbridge, Alta., where the Gryphons will try to bring home a national medal.
Tanguay said her parents and sister will be travelling to Lethbridge to watch the games.
“I’m really looking forward to having them out there. We’re excited to go do that and be there together.”
The U Sports national championships will take place between Feb. 24 and Feb. 28 and will be streamed live on YouTube.
