Team PACWEST
Four student athletes from across the PACWEST have combined to become one team for nationals
The PACWEST is represented at the CCAA National Curling championship in Lethbridge, Alberta currently in Day 3 of competition.
Four student athletes from around the Conference have come together for one common goal; to bring a women’s national championship back to British Columbia from the rink.
The team has arrived in Lethbridge and has already started competition, taking on seven other women’s teams from across the country with big expectations. They are coached by Kris Gira, who is a mixed doubles player on the World Curling Tour and the cousin of World Champion Kevin Martin. Kris hails from Killam Alberta and has 35 years of experience in curling, recently moving over to the coaching side of the sport and is advancing steadily. He says the PACWEST team will be a serious threat at the nationals after practicing for months.
Meet the Team:
Emily Bowles from the Camosun Chargers is the skip and his her 13th year of curling. Just last year she participated in the U20 National championship as part of Team BC and has also played at the U20 Canada Games in mixed doubles and the U18 Nationals and Special World Qualifier in 2021. She was inspired by her family to curl, playing with her sisters and cousins. Her grandpa was her first coach, before her dad took over the role as she got older. She is enrolled in the Associates Degree of Biology program in the classroom.
Alex Ashton is the Second on the PACWEST team and is playing for the second year in the CCAA nationals from the VIU Mariners. She’s also the mixed doubles partner of coach Gira. This is her 22nd year of curling, getting her start on the ice with her family, led by her grandparents who first exposed her to the sport. She has had great experience over her career including last year’s CCAA national championship which will help her this year knowing the expectations. She is graduating this term with a Recreation and Sport Management Diploma.
Erin Fitzgibbon is the third on the team and has been involved in curling for the past 11 years, competitively playing for the last six. She studies at Langara College and is enrolled in the BBA of Business Management program. Her dad inspired her to get into the sport shortly after he was exposed to it during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He has fully supported her with every step she has taken whether it has been finding her teams to play on, driving to practices and even coaching her. This tournament is her second appearance at a national curling championship after taking part last year at the U18 championship in Ottawa where her team finished sixth in the country.
Lauren Cochrane is the Lead and one of the two returning athletes this season for the PACWEST. She got her start in the sport through her family and now is her ninth year on the ice. This is her third appearance at a national championship after competing for the PACWEST last season at the CCAA’s and representing Team BC at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. She’s currently enrolled in the BBA program at Okanagan College.
Good luck to these student athletes in their quest for a CCAA national gold medal.