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Sara Oliver

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Sara Oliver
Curler
Born (1996-07-08) July 8, 1996 (age 28)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Team
Curling clubAssiniboine Memorial CC,
Winnipeg, MB[1]
Curling career
Member Association Manitoba
Hearts appearances1 (2023)
Top CTRS ranking7th (2022–23)
Medal record
Curling
Representing  Canada
World Mixed Championship
Gold medal – first place 2019 Aberdeen

Sara Oliver (born July 8, 1996)[2] is a Canadian curler from Winnipeg.[3] She is a former World Mixed Curling Champion.

Career

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Juniors

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Oliver skipped teams at both the 2014 and 2015 Manitoba Junior Curling Championships going 4–3 in both years, and losing in a tiebreaker in 2015.[4][5]

In 2015, Oliver joined the Abby Ackland junior rink, playing lead on the team. The rink won the 2016 Manitoba Junior Championship, sending the team to the 2016 Canadian Junior Curling Championships to represent Manitoba.[6] The team finished 5–1 through the round robin and tied for third in the championship pool at 7–3. This put them in a tiebreaker against New Brunswick's Justine Comeau which they lost 7–5, eliminating them from contention.[7]

In 2016, Oliver joined the Laura Burtnyk rink as the team's second. The team won the 2017 Manitoba juniors, sending Oliver to play for Manitoba once again at the 2017 Canadian Junior Curling Championships.[8] There, the team finished with a 5–4 record, missing the championship round.

In 2017, Oliver played her last junior season playing third on the Meghan Walter rink. That season, the team lost in the finals of the Manitoba junior championship.[9]

Women's

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Oliver joined up with Abby Ackland again in 2018 as her lead. The team also included third Hailey Ryan and second Emilie Rafnson. In their first season together, the team had impressive results at The Sunova Spiel at East St. Paul where they reached the final, the Manitoba Curling Tour Classic where they reached the semifinals and the Mother Club Fall Curling Classic where they were quarterfinalists.[10] They qualified for the 2019 Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts through the Winnipeg region and surprised many with a strong 5–2 record in the round robin. This put them in a tiebreaker, which they won 8–7 over Beth Peterson to qualify for the playoff round. They then lost 6–4 to Kerri Einarson in the 3 vs. 4 game.[11]

Team Ackland stayed together for the 2019–20 season where they found more success on tour. The team won their first event at the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic and made the final of the Manitoba Curling Tour Classic.[12] They also had two other semifinal appearances at the DeKalb Superspiel and the Mother Club Fall Curling Classic. After their great run through the 2019 event, the team could not replicate their success at the 2020 Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts, failing to qualify for the playoffs following a 3–2 record. Ackland could not play in the event, as she was eight months pregnant. Instead, Hailey Ryan took over the reins.[13]

Ryan left the team at the conclusion of the 2019–20 season and she was replaced with Robyn Njegovan for the 2020–21 season. The team played in two events during the abbreviated season, reaching the semifinals of both the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic and the MCT Cargill Curling Training Centre Fall Classic.[14] Second Emilie Rafnson left the team the next season and was replaced by Kaitlyn Jones who took over as skip of the team.[15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the qualification process for the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials had to be modified to qualify enough teams for the championship. In these modifications, Curling Canada created the 2021 Canadian Curling Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event, an event where eight teams would compete to try to earn one of two spots into the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Pre-Trials.[16] Team Jones qualified for the Pre-Trials Direct-Entry Event as the top seed. They lost both the B and C qualifier games to Jessie Hunkin and Jill Brothers respectively.[17] On tour, the team had an undefeated run at the SaskTour Women's Nutana up until the final where they lost to Jessica Mitchell.[18] They also had deep runs at the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic and the SaskTour Women's Moose Jaw but lost in the semifinals at both events. At the 2022 Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Team Jones qualified for the playoffs after a 6–2 record through the round robin and championship pool. In the semifinal, they fell 8–6 to Kristy Watling.[19]

Team Jones parted ways after just one season, with Oliver and Ackland joining forces with Meghan Walter and Mackenzie Elias to form a new team for the 2022–23 season. After a slow start, the team found their footing at the 2022 Western Showdown where they advanced all the way to the final before losing to Silvana Tirinzoni.[20] The team again qualified at the 2022 Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic where they lost in the quarterfinals to Gim Eun-ji.[21] Team Ackland changed their lineup halfway through the season with Walter taking over as the new skip.[22] This switch paid off immediately with the team winning the DeKalb Superspiel in December 2022.[23] The team made their first Grand Slam event at the 2023 Canadian Open where they qualified for the playoffs through the B side.[24] They then lost in the quarterfinals to Tean Gim.[25] Team Ackland competed in the 2023 Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts where they finished 3–2 through the round robin. They went on to a 5–3 record in the championship pool, enough to qualify for a tiebreaker. There, they won 9–3 over Beth Peterson to qualify for the semifinal where they upset Kaitlyn Lawes 8–5.[26] In the championship game, they lost 10–5 to Jennifer Jones, ending their run.[27] Despite this, Team Ackland still qualified for the 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts as Wild Card #3 thanks to their CTRS points earned throughout the season.[28] At the Hearts, the team finished fifth in their pool with a 3–5 record, earning wins over the Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, and the Yukon.[29]

After the season, Oliver and Ackland joined the new Jolene Campbell rink at lead and third, respectively.

Mixed

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In 2018, Oliver qualified for the 2019 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Winnipeg, playing lead on the Manitoba team led by Colin Kurz. The team finished 7–3 through the round robin and championship round to qualify for the playoffs as the second seed. They then beat Ontario 9–1 in the semifinal before winning 7–4 over Nova Scotia in the gold medal game.[30] The win qualified the team to represent Canada at the 2019 World Mixed Curling Championship where they dominated through the round robin with a 7–0 record. In the playoffs, they scored wins over Sweden, Denmark and Norway to qualify for the gold medal game against Germany's Andy Kapp. There, the Canadian team scored two in the eighth end for a 6–5 win to become the world champions.[31]

Personal life

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Oliver is originally from Marquette, Manitoba, and went to high school at Warren Collegiate Institute in nearby Warren.[32] Oliver attended the University of Manitoba.[2] She works as a massage therapist for Warren Chiropractic and Health Centre.[33]

Teams

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Season Skip Third Second Lead
2013–14[34] Meaghan Brezden Sara Oliver Danielle Lafleur Nikki Boulet
2014–15 Meaghan Brezden Sara Oliver Danielle Lafleur Nikki Boulet
2015–16 Abby Ackland Robyn Njegovan Melissa Gordon Sara Oliver
2016–17 Laura Burtnyk Hailey Ryan Sara Oliver Rebecca Cormier
2017–18 Meghan Walter Sara Oliver Morgan Reimer Mackenzie Elias
2018–19 Abby Ackland Hailey Ryan Emilie Rafnson Sara Oliver
2019–20 Abby Ackland Hailey Ryan Emilie Rafnson Sara Oliver
2020–21 Abby Ackland Robyn Njegovan Emilie Rafnson Sara Oliver
2021–22 Kaitlyn Jones Abby Ackland Robyn Njegovan Sara Oliver
2022–23 Meghan Walter Abby Ackland Sara Oliver Mackenzie Elias
2023–24 Jolene Campbell Abby Ackland Rachel Erickson Sara Oliver

References

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  1. ^ "2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts presented by Rocky Mountain Equipment". Curl Manitoba. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Experience, bloodlines key to Manitoba juniors' success". Winnipeg Free Press. January 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Camada. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Oliver 4-3 at 2014 Manitoba Canola Juniors". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Oliver". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Danielle Da Silva (January 18, 2016). "Fort Rouge's Ackland wins provincial junior crown". Free Press Community. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "New Brunswick women prevail in 2016 Canadian Juniors tiebreaker". Curling Canada. January 29, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "2017 Junior Provincial Curling Championships". CHVN Radio. January 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "Walter Runner-Up at 2018 Manitoba Canola Junior Womens Provincials". CurlingZone. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Team Abby Ackland: 2018–19". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Fleury Advances to Scotties Final". Steinbach Online. January 26, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "2019 Atkins Curling Supplies Classic". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  13. ^ Ted Wyman (January 29, 2020). "Ackland team carrying on without skipper at Manitoba Scotties". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "Team Abby Ackland 2020–21". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "Introducing the "new" Manitoba Jones team". The Curler. December 5, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "2021 Trials proceess revised". Curling Canada. February 4, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Heading to Liverpool!". Curling Canada. September 25, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "2021 SaskTour Women's Nutana". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  19. ^ Lucas Punkari (December 19, 2021). "SCOTTIES: Watling beats Jones in semifinal". The Brandon Sun. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Colin Powers (October 17, 2022). "Team Tirinzoni captures women's Western Showdown". Swift Current Online. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  21. ^ "2022 Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dunstone, Ackland win star-studded Morris SuperSpiel". The Carillon. December 9, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Jonathan Brazeau (January 11, 2023). "Team Ackland earns first win in GSOC series at Co-op Canadian Open". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Jonathan Brazeau (January 13, 2023). "Team Ackland qualifies for Co-op Canadian Open playoffs in GSOC debut". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  25. ^ Jonathan Brazeau (January 14, 2023). "Jones eliminates Lawes to qualify for Co-op Canadian Open playoffs". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  26. ^ Paul Friesen (January 29, 2023). "Ackland upsets Lawes to reach provincial final". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  27. ^ "Jennifer Jones returns to Canadian women's curling championship in Manitoba colours". CTV News Winnipeg. January 30, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  28. ^ "Lawes, Scheidegger, Walter in wild-card position for Scotties Tournament of Hearts". Toronto Sun. January 31, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  29. ^ "Jones eyes record book!". Curling Canada. February 23, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  30. ^ "Manitoba wins Canadian Mixed title in front of hometown crowd". Curling Canada. November 10, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  31. ^ Sheldon Birnie (December 23, 2019). "The year in local sports". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  32. ^ "Oliver competes under the bright lights". Interlake Spectator. January 27, 2019.
  33. ^ "2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "Sara Oliver Past Teams". CurlingZone. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
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