Not a lot of people in the world can say they defeated world and Olympic curling champion Jennifer Jones – 
but Lethbridge College alumna Casey Scheidegger can.
She and her rink did just that in the quarterfinals of the Meridian Canadian Open in North Battleford, Sask., in January, the fourth Grand Slam of Curling event and third “major” of the 2016–17 curling season.
Casey says her quarter final win against such an esteemed team was “pretty incredible.” She says that her foursome was fairly relaxed going into the match, and she adds that Jennifer Jones missed a couple of shots and her team fortunately made them when they had to. It was the team’s first Grand Slam title in their first-ever Grand Slam event.
Casey, who hails from Diamond City, fell in love with curling at the age of 11 when she was part of the junior program at the Lethbridge Curling Club. Casey has a passion for not only curling but for athletics in general. That helped in her decision to take the two-year Exercise Science program at the college.
“Going to the college was one of the best choices I ever made,” says Casey. “It’s such a great transition from high school to college. It was an awesome experience with a fun atmosphere. It was kind of a comfort thing.”
While going to college, Casey worked at the same junior curling program where she learned the sport. She loved the aspect of teaching kids and that became the inspiration to pursue her teaching degree. After graduating from the college in 2010, she enrolled in the education program at the University of Lethbridge. Many of her college courses transferred easily to the university, and so she was able to complete her teaching degree in four years rather than the usual five.
Casey, who currently teaches junior high in Carmangay, is married to Duncan Koning and they have an 11-month-old son, Kayden. She wholeheartedly recommends Lethbridge College as your first post-secondary experience. As she puts it, “You’ll make friends and get an education.”
Mark Campbell (Communication Arts 1975) shares the stories of fellow Lethbridge College alumni. To read more interviews by Mark, visit his blog at greetergrammer1.wordpress.com.
