An experienced athlete from a prolific curling family is entering his second marriage in Black Diamond.
Sean Morris has joined the Oilfields Curling Club-based Mike Libbus rink as the new team’s new third for the 2012-13 season, only expanding the 36-year-old Morris’ connection to the Diamond Valley where he and his wife Cori were married in July 2010.
“We were trying to find a location that was going to suit us so we came to Black Diamond went to the curling rink and that’s how we met Mike,” said Morris of his wedding planning. “He kind of took us under his wing, he had all the connections which was great, he knew somebody that could get tables, somebody that could get flowers and a bit of everything. He was just such a helpful guy.”
Libbus said it was a touch of coincidence leading to his relationship with the Morrises.
“They gave the curling club a call just looking for some help one day and I just happened to answer the phone and I helped them get organized,” said Libbus.
“We got to know each other real well over that year and just through the curling scene we’d see each other every once in a while.”
Running into a Morris on the sheets is a common occurrence for Canadian curlers.
The sport is synonymous with the Morris family. When asked who’s the best rock thrower in the clan, Sean had a hard time singling one out.
“I’d have to say my brother-in-law (Tom Brewster) at the moment, he’s got the silver for Scotland right now, but my mom (Carolyn Morris) is a (Canadian) senior champion in her own right with Cathy King right now, so who knows if she gets (world) gold she’ll be top of the list again,” quipped Morris.
His wife Cori Morris won the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver as the second for the Cheryl Bernard rink while Sean’s sister Kim Brewster is a two-time European mixed champion with Scotland.
Morris boasts an impressive resume in his own right. He won a world junior championship as the third for Colin Davison in 1994 before moving to Scotland and playing third for many years against the likes of world-champion David Murdoch and Euan Byers. The 36-year-old moved to Calgary in 2006 and has since curled with Matt Lemna, Don DeLair, Dean Ross and Jamie Ross most recently.
Morris said the Black Diamond curlers’ dedication to improving made the prospects of joining the team all the more enticing.
“Just a great bunch of guys, knowing through the papers and through yourselves even reading them online about how they practice hard and had the dedication to make it to provincials,” Morris said, “That’s kind of what I’m looking for; a team that’s willing to commit and keep the effort in and try and get some reward out of it.”
Libbus said Morris will fit the team dynamic. The newcomer will slot in at third, Libbus will be moving back up to his familiar position of skip, with Brad MacInnis and Peter Keenan remaining at second and lead, respectively
“The biggest thing we were looking for is someone with some personality that fit the rest of us, we like to go out there and have fun,” Libbus said.
“We’re definitely going to work hard, our commitment we feel is to work harder than anybody else right now in the regular curling scene so we needed somebody to be on that same page and he was excited about that,” Libbus said. “He’s been on a high level for a lot of years so he knows what it takes… he’s a great addition.”
Geography should also allow the foursome to practice on a regular basis with the short drive to and from Black Diamond to Calgary paling in comparison to former skip Matt Blandford’s hometown of Cold Lake.
“They talked about moving out here to Black Diamond, Turner Valley so you never know in a year or two you might see that happen,” Libbus said. “But right now he lives in Calgary so we’re going to hook up and play in a league together and he’s willing to come out here and practice and we’re willing to go there.”
In the meantime, Morris is eager to test the waters with his new teammates.
“We briefly sat down and thought we’ll try and hit the Alberta Tour and start practicing whenever the ice gets put in,” Morris said. “I think we’re all really looking forward it.”
