The gold medal drought is over for the Raiders.
Holy Rosary High School has reclaimed its place atop the podium, capturing mixed curling gold at the School Sport Alberta curling provincials, Feb. 16 to 21 in Slave Lake.
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Just as the 2026 Winter Olympics were wrapping up, the Raiders, comprised of skip Jax Robson, third Kayleigh Reiniger, second John Winter and lead Maria Gebhardt, were authoring a golden finish of their own — returning home to Lloydminster as provincial champions.
For coaches Dale Howland, Laurie Makichuk and Hanna Baynton, the victory was both a culmination and a privilege.
“Being a coach is something that’s an honour,” said Howland, who has coached on and off at Holy Rosary since 2008. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Laurie Makichuk and her husband, Dusty, who’s the coach at Lakeland College.”
The week in Slave Lake tested more than just shot-making ability. Extreme cold gripped much of Alberta, with Howland noting one day ranked among the coldest in North America. Originally slated to feature 10 teams, the championship was reduced to eight after two southern Alberta squads were unable to travel due to weather.
The HRHS mixed curling team was all smiles after besting Lethbridge 9-4 to win gold at the School Sport Alberta provincial championship last weekend. Submitted photo
Still, the competition was fierce.
“The competition was very tough,” said Howland. “Any of those eight teams could have made it to the final, but it just so happened that Holy Rosary raised the bar and curled extremely well.”
The Raiders met Lethbridge in the gold-medal final, capping off what Howland described as a week of steady growth and composure from his rink.
“I was so impressed with the curlers — their communication, their attitude on and off the ice — it was just fantastic,” he said.
A WIN FOR MORE THAN JUST THE TEAM
The gold medal carries weight beyond the four players on the ice.
“Any time you can be No. 1 in the province, it’s a good thing,” said Howland. “I know the school really supports us and I’m so happy for the Lloydminster curling community as well. It’s good for the current club, and hopefully we can continue in the future and bring back more gold.”
The victory marks Holy Rosary’s third mixed provincial title, but the first in more than a decade. The school previously won mixed gold in 2010 and 2011, and girls’ gold in 2011 and 2012, before settling for a string of silver and bronze finishes in recent years.
“We’ve had a bit of a dry spot,” Howland said. “We finally made it to this level now. I’m very happy. What a way to end the season.”
Beyond banners and medals, Howland believes curling leaves students with lessons that extend far past high school.
“Even though you’re individually making shots, it’s a team game, so you have to rely on other people,” he said. “These young curlers will continue to curl for the rest of their lives and continue to be friends past graduation and university and careers. They’ll still have this one common bond — that they were provincial champions.”
A GOLDEN MOMENT FOR ROBSON
For Grade 11 curler Jax Robson, the championship was especially sweet.
Competing at mixed provincials for the second time, Robson captured his first gold medal in Slave Lake.
“It was a great feeling,” he said. “We curled great as a team and it was just a good week overall.”
He credited both the strength of the field and the Raiders’ steady improvement throughout the tournament.
“A lot of the teams were really good and we just curled well,” said Robson. “I think we progressed as the week went on. We’ve been curling together since Grade 9 when we first went to provincials and we’ve gotten better every year.”
Curling runs in the family for Robson, who was introduced to the sport by his father.
“My dad curled all his life and he just kind of introduced us to the sport,” he said. “I love that it’s a gentleman’s game. Everyone can play at any age, and I think it’s just a great way to socialize and be in the community.”
The sport has already opened doors for the young Raider. In 2025, Robson competed in the Aztec Safety Challenge, where he had the opportunity to play against Canadian curling standouts Brad Gushue and Reid Carruthers.
Closer to home, he credits the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre for nurturing his passion.
“It’s a great place. I love this rink; it’s my home rink with a lot of great memories,” he said.
With a provincial banner soon to hang and momentum on their side, the Raiders have not only ended a title drought — they’ve set a new standard for the next generation of Holy Rosary curlers to chase.
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