Manson, Helston named ACAC Curling All-Conference
RED DEER, ALTA., (Feb. 28, 2020) – In their return to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), SAIT's men's curling team picked up some impressive hardware.
Skip Andrew Manson (1st year, St. Albert, Alta., Aircraft Maintenance Technology) and second Ben Helston (1st year, Calgary, Business Administration) were both named to the ACAC's All-Conference Team. The awards were handed out Friday night at the ACAC Curling Championships Banquet, hosted by Red Deer College.
"We're very proud of not only Andrew and Ben, but our entire men's and mixed curling teams that helped us bring varsity curling back into the fold here at SAIT," said SAIT Director of Athletics, Wade Kolmel. "Andrew has done a great job of leading his team to two great showings this season, and Ben's versatility and knowledge of the sport has proved invaluable as the season has gone on."
This season, Manson led the Trojans to two events – the fall and winter regional. With just three team members (Helston and lead Miki Becker), the Trojans went 3-3 at the fall regional, hosted by Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alta.
Two months later, the team added third Riley Helston to the fold and went 5-1 at the winter regional, hosted by the NAIT Ooks in Edmonton, Alta.
The Trojans had not competed in an ACAC event since disbanding following the 2006-07 season.
Manson and Ben Helston become the first Trojans to earn ACAC All-Conference nods since Michael Coolidge (skip) and Joel Falkenberg (third) were selected in the 2004-05 season.
The ACAC Curling Championships run from Feb. 28 to March 1.