DIDSBURY -- Like many high school seniors, Jocelyn LeClaire has been very busy in her Grade 12 year at Didsbury High School. In October, LeClaire ended up placing first at the World Clydesdale Show in Wisconsin in her category.
She then went right into basketball season where she helped her Didsbury Dragons team win the zone championship and advance to provincials for the first time in several years.
LeClaire told the Gazette she was thrilled at winning both titles. She was part of a community celebration earlier in the month to celebrate the senior girls' basketball team's success at zones and provincials.
"We went in ranked first at zones so we were kind of expecting it," said LeClaire. "But at the same time it's always good competition at zones. So it's always a pleasant surprise when you pull through."
Didsbury hosted the zone championships on March 8 and 9. They advanced to provincials by beating Hanna 62-47 in the final.
"We played phenomenal," she said. "That's the best we played all season. The enthusiasm and intensity we played with was just amazing."
At provincials in Le Crete, the Dragons won one of three games to finish tied for seventh.
"It was really good," she said. "The teams there were very strong and aggressive. It was an amazing experience. Just making it to provincials is such an honour."
LeClaire is not sure what she'll do after graduation but she wants to keep competing with horses, something she's been very successful with so far.
"If I get an offer for college for basketball I'll probably take it," she said. "Otherwise, I think I'll take a year off and show horses."
LeClaire has already had a great deal of experience and success with showing horses including being the World Champion Junior Cart Driver in Madison, Wis. in October at the World Clydesdale Show.
"It was one of the best experiences of my life," she said.
Although it was open entry, LeClaire had to beat out 25 other junior (15-18) cart drivers for the championship.
"I grew up showing horses," she said. "I grew up on my dad's farm just west of Didsbury. It's something I've always had a passion for."
LeClaire has competed at the Calgary Stampede for a number of years and plans to return this summer.
"This year I won the Grand Champion Showman," she said. "Last year I got Reserve Grand Champion Showman. So it's been a very successful couple of years there."
