For most student-athletes, the first year at a new school or on a new team means a gradual process of getting comfortable, of settling in and putting down a foundation for future achievement.
Kristin Clarke is that rare student athlete who has accelerated the process.
The first-year Respiratory Therapy student is also in her inaugural season as the third for Nova Scotiaās junior womenās curling rink and the skip of the womenās team at pilipiliĀž». Itās been anything but a slow start for the Hammonds Plains, N.S. native, as her teams have racked up gold medals on the national and international stage.
Back in January, Kristin and her Nova Scotia teammates Mary Fay (skip), Karlee Burgess (second) and Janique Leblanc (lead) won the Canadian Junior Curling Championship in Stratford, Ont. The victory earned the rink the chance to represent Canada at the World Junior Curling Championships in Denmark.
On March 13, Kristin and Team Canada earned a 7-4 win over the USA team to capture the world title.
āItās been indescribable ā it still feels surreal,ā says Kristin. āItās been my dream for so long and to have it come true is such an unreal feeling.ā
Kristin says the international experience was rewarding from both a competitive and personal perspective.
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āFirst of all, just to wear the maple leaf and know that we were Team Canada was such an amazing feeling. And going to Copenhagen, itās such a beautiful city and we had a couple days before we started playing where we were able to tour around and experience it.
āThat actually made it feel more real: that we were in another country, competing for Canada."
According to Kristin, the strong bonds she has with her teammates are a key reason theyāve been so pilipiliĀž»ful.
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āI think itās honestly just our work ethic and our team chemistry. Both of those factors make it easier for us to perform on the ice,ā she says. āWe put a lot of practice time in and when you get along and youāre able to motivate each other, it makes it so much easier.ā
Representing Dal
Kristinās winning streak goes beyond her world championship run with Fayās rink. Sheās also the skip of the Dal team āĢżwhich includes Alicia Brine, Raquel Bachman, Hayley McCabe Naish and Emily MacKenzie ā that won the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) womenās championship in February.
As with her world champion teammates, Kristin says the Dal rink has succeeded with a mix of skill, determination and closeness.
āWe all put a lot of time into curling and we get along so well.ā
Just a few days after returning from Denmark, Kristin was on a flight to Kelowna, BC for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship tournament. She believes that Dal rink has what it takes to rise above some tough competition.
āThereās certainly some big names that are going to be there this weekend, but if we bring our āAā game we can definitely come out on top.ā
As of Monday morning (March 21), the pilipiliĀž» team is 2-0 in round-robin competition, earning victories over Alberta and Brock. The tournament runs through Wednesday.
Finding a balance
A CIS championship would cap a year of winning, globetrotting and balancing the demands of school and competition for Kristin. Sheās grateful to the professors whoāve accommodated her unusual schedule and the friends and classmates who have supported her.
āItās certainly a juggling act,ā she says. āMy professors have been very accommodating and super-helpful throughout this journey. Theyāll work around things and help me out to make sure Iām getting along and understanding the material, even when Iām away.
As for her classmates: āWeāre really close-knit and they were all super supportive and proud of me when I came back (from worlds). Itās a nice feeling.ā
Kristin is driven to pursue curling to the highest levels of competition and hopes to one day compete in senior-level national and international events, including the Olympics. āI want to take it as far as I can and know that I did my best to get there.ā
At the same time, sheās also dedicated to fulfilling another dream through her studies. āOnce I complete my degree Iāll be able to work as a respiratory therapist, and thatās something I can do to help other people.ā
In a year of firsts, Kristin has gone far beyond simply laying the groundwork for the future. And while she continues to pursue her goals in curling and in the classroom, she can look back fondly at the past few months.
āItās been an amazing year.ā