A former Sundre curler and member of the University of Alberta team skipped by Kelsey Rocque brought home a gold medal following a big win against Russia at the 2017 Winter Universiade.
Danielle Schmiemann, vice-skip as well as third on Team Canada, recently returned home victorious from the 28th annual event, which this year was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
"We had pretty high expectations," she told the Round Up last week during a phone interview, adding Canadian curling teams generally have a reputation for doing well at international competitions.
The 20-year-old University of Alberta student and her teammates ó lead Taylore Theroux, second Taylor McDonald and skip Rocque ó expected to at least put up a good fight throughout the week, she said.
That they did, and then some, going on to win gold against Russia with a dominating 8-3 lead.
"The Russians conceded defeat in the ninth end."
Team Canada had qualified to compete in the Universiade last year after winning the USports Nationals, she said.
"We've known since March that we were going to Kazakhstan."
Since nationals, McDonald and Rocque played on another women's team, but the squad reunited to play in Almaty, she said.
"It was fun to get back together and play again."
Considering the length of time since the team had played, Schmiemann said she was, "happy with how we came together after being apart for so long."
"We're just really excited to bring back a gold medal for Canada," said the third-year university student, adding that it was the only gold medal Canada claimed at the games.
Having never before visited Almaty nor Kazakhstan, the once avid Sundre junior curler said she did not know what to expect but was nevertheless pleasantly surprised.
"The country itself was beautiful," she said, describing a mountain landscape somewhat reminiscent of the Rockies. Additionally, the reception was warm and welcoming, with residents offering hospitality with open arms.
"The people there were so friendly. We took a lot of pictures with locals because they loved having people there from Canada."
She described the trip as "an experience we could probably never have imagined."
Although the Universiade essentially marked the rink's last game together as her teammates have or are graduating, Schmiemann already has her sights set on the upcoming USports playdowns and hopes to again qualify for nationals. Playing with a different squad, she plans to compete in playdowns, which start March 3 at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton.
But for now, the university student who is pursuing a bachelor of science in kinesiology said she's trying to catch up on her studies.
"I just missed three weeks of classes ó today's the first day back," she said on Monday, Feb. 13.
Schmiemann says finding a balance between school and sport is "definitely something that takes a little bit of getting used to."
Having started curling at a young age of about six, she told the Round Up the sport has helped her forge many long-lasting friendships, including with her mentor and Sundre resident Bev Konschuh, who used to run the local curling club when Schmiemann first got involved.
"She was one of the first people to text me after we won to say congratulations," she said.
"It's really cool that we still keep in touch after so many years."
With friends and family who still live in the area, Schmiemann said she enjoys coming back to visit Sundre on occasion for holidays as well as the odd weekend.
