By Dan Marshall

Nanaimo’s Van Osch sisters win BC title, earn berth to Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Jan 8, 2018 | 11:19 AM

NANAIMO – The Van Osch sisters are the top women’s curling team in the province.
 
Kesa, Kalia, and Marika Van Osch along with teammate Amy Gibson from Victoria, beat Karla Thompson’s Kamloops rink 11-4 in Sunday’s BC Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.
 
Those two rinks were the top teams all week long with Thompson finishing 6-1 in the round robin and the Van Osch’s posting a 5-2 record.
 
The foursome representing the Nanaimo Curling Club cruised through the playoff round by actually beating Thompson’s rink twice in the unique page playoff system.
 
Kalia Van Osch, the second on the team, says it’s an exciting time for the whole group. 
 
“We’re letting it sink in just because at the beginning of the season we weren’t necessarily expecting to be at this point. But we’re enjoying it, we’re enjoying the moment, and we’re looking forward to the next few weeks,” said Van Osch. 
 
Skip Kesa Van Osch has been on the big stage before, representing BC at the national women’s championship in 2014.
 
But for Kalia, Marika and Amy Gibson – this is a first.
 
Kalia says the team will lean on Kesa’s experience when they head to Penticton for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on January 27.
 
“It’s going to be awesome to have her with that experience. I think her bit of knowledge of what’s going to go on there is really going to help out going forward,” said Kalia.

The Nanaimo team had a lot of family and friends to support them at the BC championship in Victoria, and they’ll have the home crowd behind them for the nationals as well.

The Scotties is being played in Penticton at the South Okanagan Events Centre this year.
 
Kalia says the sisters have never curled at the SOEC but they are looking forward to being the ‘home team’. 
 
“To have all the fans and the locals there cheering you on and wearing the BC colours, I think it’ll be a very cool experience being able to play close to home, said Kalia. 
 
It’s been chaotic week for the Nanaimo curlers but at the same time Kalia says the support from family, friends, and the community has been overwhelming.
 
The hopes of a province and the eyes of a country will be on the Van Osch’s now that they are BC’s team.
 
 
dan.marshall@jpbg.ca
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77