Shannon Kleibrink (born October 7, 1968 in Norquay, Saskatchewan) is a retired[2] Canadian curler from Okotoks, Alberta. She and her team of third Amy Nixon, second Glenys Bakker, lead Christine Keshen and alternate Sandra Jenkins represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. They won a bronze medal.

Shannon Kleibrink
Born
Shannon Getty[1]

(1968-10-07) October 7, 1968 (age 55)
Curling career
Hearts appearances5 (1993, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2017)
Top CTRS ranking1st (2004–05, 2008–09)
Grand Slam victories2 (Autumn Gold, 2008; Casinos of Winnipeg, 2007
Medal record
Women's curling
Representing  Canada
Winter Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Turin
Representing  Alberta
Scotties Tournament of Hearts
Silver medal – second place 2008 Regina
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
Gold medal – first place 2005 Halifax
Silver medal – second place 2009 Edmonton
Silver medal – second place 1997 Brandon

Career edit

As a junior curler, Kleibrink lost in the final of the 1987 junior provincial championships, and in the Alberta final to qualify for the Canada Winter Games, both to LaDawn Funk.[1]

After losing in the final of the 1991 Alberta Scott Tournament of Hearts,[1] Kleibrink won the 1993 provincial title, defeating Funk in the final.[3] This qualified her to represent Alberta at the 1993 Scott Tournament of Hearts, Canada's national curling championship. There, her team of Sandra Jenkins, Sally Shigehiro and Joanne Wright finished 6-5. Kleibrink didn't qualify for the Scotts again until 2004, but in the meantime she made it to the final of the 1997 Olympic Trials. At the trials, where the winner played for Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics, Kleibrink lost in the final to Sandra Schmirler. In 2004 Kleibrink became the first woman to win a Canadian Mixed Curling Championship as skip. She was also the first woman to skip a team at the mixed, when she did so the previous year, where she lost in the final. Only a few weeks later, Kleibrink and her women's team won the 2004 Alberta Scott Tournament of Hearts, defeating the defending champion Deb Santos team in the final, 6–5.[4] At the 2004 Scott Tournament of Hearts, Kleibrink and her team of Amy Nixon, Glenys Bakker and Stephanie Marchand finished 6–5, out of the playoffs.

In 2005, Kleibrink won that year's Canada Cup where she beat Jan Betker in the final. Later on that year, Kleibrink qualified for the Olympics, when they beat Kelly Scott's team from Kelowna, British Columbia at the 2005 Canadian Olympic trials. Kleibrink's team began the tournament at 1-3 before winning seven straight games to qualify. In the final end of the championship game, Kleibrink scored 3 points to win the match 8–7.

Kleibrink won the 2008 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts, by defeating Renée Sonnenberg in the final, coming back from a 5–1 deficit to win 7–6.[5] This qualified her team to represent Alberta at the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she represented Alberta for a third time. There, she had her best career showing at the Hearts. They finished in first place after the round robin with a 10–1 record. They then defeated Sherry Middaugh of Ontario to advance to the finals for the first time. However, she was defeated in the championship game by Jennifer Jones of Manitoba.[6]

The following year, Kleibrink's team lost to Heather Nedohin's rink in the 2009 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts semi-final, failing to return to that year's national championships. However, Kleibrink did see some success, having won the 2009 Canada Cup of Curling, defeating Marie-France Larouche in the final. In addition, Kleibrink earned a direct berth into the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials to be held in Edmonton. At the Olympic Trials, Kleibrink lost in the final to Cheryl Bernard. Kleibrink failed to make it to the Scotties once again, losing to Valerie Sweeting in the 2010 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts final.

It was announced at the 2011 Canada Cup of Curling, that following the event, Bronwen Webster, who is pregnant, will sit out the rest of the season and be replaced by Carolyn McRorie, who had filled in for Kleibrink earlier in the season, and Matson, who did not participate in the Canada Cup for family obligations.

For the 2012/2013 season, Kleibrink will add Kalynn Park to her lineup at second position. Kleibrink's longtime third Amy Nixon decided to leave and form her own rink. Bronwen Webster will move up to play third and Chelsey Matson will remain at lead. Park joined the team at the end of the 2011/2012 season, playing in one tournament, the 2012 Victoria Curling Classic Invitational, at the third position.[7]

For the 2015/2016 season, Kleibrink has added Sarah Wilkes and Alison Kotylak to her team.[8]

After the 2017-18 Season Kleibrink announced her retirement

Personal life edit

Kleibrink works as the Director of Community Curling Centre Development for Curling Alberta.[9] She is married to Richard Kleibrink[10] and has two children.[11] She currently coaches the Kayla Skrlik rink,[12] and formerly coached her son, Kyler.[13]

Grand Slam record edit

Key
C Champion
F Lost in Final
SF Lost in Semifinal
QF Lost in Quarterfinals
R16 Lost in the round of 16
Q Did not advance to playoffs
T2 Played in Tier 2 event
DNP Did not participate in event
N/A Not a Grand Slam event that season
Event 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15
Masters N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A QF DNP DNP
Players' SF Q Q F QF QF DNP Q DNP DNP

Former events edit

Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15
Autumn Gold SF F C Q QF F SF Q Q
Colonial Squares N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A QF Q DNP
Wayden Transportation SF QF Q N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Sobeys Slam N/A SF Q N/A DNP N/A N/A N/A N/A
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries SF C Q DNP DNP DNP SF Q N/A

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Airdrie skip aims for top". Edmonton Journal. February 6, 1993. p. 77. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kleibrink retiring from competitive curling". 2018-02-17.
  3. ^ "Kleibrink ascends provincial throne". Calgary Herald. February 9, 1993. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  4. ^ "Kleibrink prevails for Alberta title". Edmonton Journal. February 2, 2004. p. D4. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Kleibrink stages amazing come back". Edmonton Journal. January 28, 2008. p. C6. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Curling Scoops The 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
  7. ^ https://calgaryherald.com/sports/Kleibrink+adds+Edmonton+Park+team/6316849/story.html[dead link]
  8. ^ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Kleibrink/338358732981663?fref=nf[user-generated source]
  9. ^ "2021 Home Hardware Curling Pre-Trials Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  10. ^ 2017 Home Hardware RTTR Media Guide
  11. ^ 2017 Scotties Media Guide: Team Alberta
  12. ^ "2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Scores – Curling Alberta".

External links edit