ryanstewartphoto.comWhen you're from a small town, it's not often that athletes go on to greatness or to shine on a National scale. For Matt Mapletoft, however, that is just what he did.
The 20-year-old Wallaceburg, Ontario native recently won the Canadian National Junior Curling Championships as a member of team Ontario. Before you go huffing and puffing that it's "only" curling, just step out on the ice and try it. The sport is difficult.
It is no fluke that Mapletoft has carried each and every team he's participated on to greatness. While in high school, his team won an OFSAA silver medal. As he moved on to curl at the university level with Wilfred Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario, he helped his team win an OUA and National Championship.
Now, after winning the National Junior Championships as lead for Team Ontario, Mapletoft has one larger goal ahead...a World Junior Championship as the lead for Team Canada.
If history serves itself, Mapletoft's chances of gold in Switzerland this March are extremely good. This 20-year-old has all the skills necessary to help his team win gold. Mapletoft, however, hasn't let this all go to his head. After asking Matt about his win, lifetime highlights, and the other obligatory sports questions, I asked Matt if he had anything else to add.
Instead of boasting, or talking about his achievements, he ranted and raved about his community, and his hometown curling club. I guess that is what makes him such an excellent curler, a level head, and an ability to see the bigger picture, even when he is surrounded by excitement.
Watch this blog and the Chatham-Kent Daily Post for updates on Matt Mapletoft as the World Junior Championships approach.
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