Dec. 6th, 2011 Dear Editor, In 2008 I graduated from C.W.D.H.S. and for my entire high school career I participated on the school curling team. It was my pride and joy and I loved every competition we attended. I must clarify that there are in fact only 2 competitions for students at C.W. to compete in. So every year, we would gear up to for the Gore Mutual Competitions run through the OCA (Ontario Curling Association) held in December and the high school competitions of CWOSSA in January . C.W.D.H.S. has a proud history of competing in these events and teams have gone on to be highly successful at them. Regardless of the disrespect high school students bestow upon such an elderly game, the members of the curling team are always equally as excited as all of the other sports teams at C.W. to show off their abilities. However, this year the coaching staff and C.W.D.H.S. Athletics department have decided that it is acceptable to cut out one of the two competitions available for C.W.D.H.S. student curlers and I for one am appalled. When I was in high school, a mere three years ago in the 2008-2009 curling season we succeeded in participating at the Provincial level for the Gore Mutuals and came third. Additionally, in 2007 the team came fifth at the Provincial Gore event and participated in OFSAA. Given this history of success, one would think that as a result of the past acheievements, particularly at the provincial level, the C.W.D.H.S. curling team would be permitted to compete. However this is not the case, and with no real reason as to why from the high school staff. The boys on the team this year have such a desire to compete that their parents agreed to pay for their entrance fee, and yet still a no from the administration. The boys and parents sought a new excited and willing staff coach for the team as the past coach was admittedly too busy, and still a no. How is this doing justice to the students of C.W. who play what is percieved as the geekiest sport possible for a younger generation? Are they being punished for not playing the coolest sport? Ultimately, I seriously question why the curling team made of four very eager and willing boys is not being permitted to proudly display their abilities in both of the interschool competitions. Especially given as I know for a fact that almost every other C.W.D.H.S. high school sport is given the opportunity to compete in multiple tournaments. Is C.W.D.H.S truly teaching students that not all sports deserve equal representation, regardless of the sports reputation, making it not worthy enough to compete in? I personally thought that curling as a validated sport had proven itself given its spot in the winter Olympics, but I obviously must be mistaken. Sincerely, Alana Dunbar
Alana Dunbar