Two Cochrane High curling teams have won berths in the upcoming Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championship, Mar. 5-7, in Lethbridge.

For the third consecutive year, the Zoe Cinnamon rink will be competing in the provincials. They've won the last two years and aspire to make it a three-peat.

The Ky Macaulay rink will represent the south central zone in the mixed competition after defeating a fellow Cochrane High team in the final.

The Cinnamon rink is formed by Zoe Cinnamon, Paige Roux, Keeley Isinghood, Marisa "The Beast" Mueller and alternate Teaghen Duffee.

The Macaulay rink includes Ky Macaulay, Maddie Dee, Max Cinnamon, Tyler Benjamin, alternates Riley Daley, and Kale Morris.

Meaghan Heppner and her teammates Liam Heppner, Claire Chang, Andrew Korver, alternates Keely Airth and Thomas Jandik won silver.

Coming off the ice, the Cinnamon rink was fired up in knowing they were returning to the provincials. Skip Zoe says there was once again stiff competition in the bonspiel.

Besides regular Cochrane High curling sessions, the team practices on their own to prepare for the competitions.

The mixed final saw longtime curlers Ky Macaulay and Meaghan Heppner go head-to-head. Ky has curled for eight years, and Meaghan seven. They've never been on the same team and have a friendly but competitive rivalry. The pair regularly share an inside joke while passing in the hallway at school.

"No pressure. It's an inside joke between us two about who can make that final shot under pressure. We go out there, and have some fun while still trying to be competitive," they said.

The Cremona High School team won gold in the boys event. Berkley Steffler, Sam Finley, Brayden Steffler, and Austin Cunningham are heading to the provincials. 

Tammy Hodgson, one of the coaches of the Cochrane High curling program, says the zone bonspiel has been hosted at the Cochrane Curling Centre for three years.

This year, 22 teams participated, eight in both the boys and mixed and six girls teams. They have established a wild card system. The top team from each school plus wild card entries are accepted until the bonspiel is full to encourage participation.

Hodgson has been part of the Cochrane High curling program for years and part of the team that has brought it to the zone finals to the Cochrane Curling Centre for the last three years. She says all the school coaches in the area have worked hard in developing a strong curling program.

"The reason I volunteer all my time for this is because you can't get a better community than a curling community."

She says in high school curling its common for one member to have curled before and others join in to try the sports.

"Our curlers help them grow. It's really cooperative. It's a true, true community."

The divisional finals were held earlier in the week in Airdrie.

Annually, the Cochrane High curling program begins its weekly sessions in October and concludes with the provincials. Besides Hodgson, Steve Horne and Karly Macaulay coach. Trainer Syndey Roux.