The defending OUA Champion McMaster Marauders women's curling team is bound for the OUA Championships this weekend at the Westmount Golf & Country Club in Waterloo, Ont.
 
Preliminary competition will take place on Feb. 25 and 26, with finals on Feb. 27.

2022 OUA Women's Curling Championship | Fan Guide | Schedule/Results
 
On the first day of competition, the Marauders will face off against the Queen's Gaels and the Brock Badgers, followed by matches against the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Rams on Day two.
 
After a break from competition due to Covid-19, the upcoming Championship will mark the first major competition for the women's team since 2019-2020.
 
However, the last season played marked a major milestone for the Marauders, as they walked away with the banner for the first time in 25 years.
 
As McMaster prepares for this year's championship, they have their eyes on gold once again, and with hard training and practicing, they are hoping to defend their title.
 
Returning head coach John Gregory believes that his team has what it takes to bring home the banner once again.
 
"These ladies have been preparing all season for OUA's," said the coach. "They have the skill and desire to repeat as Ontario champions. I look forward to a great weekend of competition from all the talented teams that will be there."
 
Returning this year from the championship team are Maddy Warriner, Grace Lloyd, and Maddy Fisher, along with the head coach, assisted by 2020 team member Kaelyn Gregory, who was named McMaster female athlete of the year and OUA Athlete of the week.
 
New to the team this year are Jenna Godfrey, who previously competed for Guelph University, winning OUA bronze in the 2015-2016 season, and Anastasia Cornea, a first-year student, from Moose Jaw, Sask.
 
Details:
McMaster Marauders vs. Queen's Gaels
Date: Feb. 25 @ 9am
Location: Westmount Golf & Country Club, Waterloo, ON
 
McMaster Marauders @ Brock Badgers
Date: Feb. 25 @ 2pm
Location: Westmount Golf & Country Club, Waterloo, ON
 
McMaster Marauders vs. Toronto Varsity Blues
Date: Feb. 26 @ 9am
Location: Westmount Golf & Country Club, Waterloo, ON
 
McMaster Marauders @ Rams
Date: Feb. 26 @ 2pm
Location: Westmount Golf & Country Club, Waterloo, ON
 
History:
The McMaster Marauders women's curling team has made a name for themselves on both the provincial and national stage in recent years.
 
After an incredible performance at the OUA Championships last season, McMaster moved on to battle it out in the final against the defending champions, the Queen's Gaels. The match was tough, staying tied through five ends, but the Marauders eventually pulled ahead, taking the gold medal game 7-5.
 
Having qualified for the USports/Curling Canada Championships, McMaster then set out for Portage la Prairie, Man., where they took fourth place in the national competition.
 
Players to Watch:
 
Maddy Warriner: As the team's skip, Warriner plays an important role in strategizing and leading her team. She was also the skip of the 2020 OUA championship team in her second OUA appearance and represented McMaster at the USports Championship. Warriner has elite experience in curling outside of the university as well, competing and championing with the Ontario U18 women's team.
 
Maddy Fisher: Fisher has two OUA appearances under her belt, including the OUA first-place title from last season. She also competed as a Marauder at the USports Championship. As a current Ontario U21 women's champion, Fisher brings experience and knowledge to her McMaster team.