We reached out to the members of Team Fisher, Uxbridge’s standout junior curling team and 2023 U18 Runback champions, as well as, the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024 national silver medallist in figure skating, Alicia Smith, and Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier in competitive swimming Chloe Walker to learn about their journey and challenges, and what drives them to excel in their respective sports.
Curling: Team Fisher
For the past few years, Team Fisher has been chasing the perfect end. After recently securing a spot in the semifinals at the prestigious Shorty Jenkins Junior Classic and earning a silver medal at the 2025 U18 Provincials – just one win away from nationals, the team is truly an inspiration to a new generation of curlers.
At the helm, Team Fisher is led by certified curling coach Jay Fisher. Team members include Andrew Jackson, Owen Porteous, Alexander Greenwood, and Ryne Fisher. Ryne and Alexander, who have curled together since they were seven, formed the foundation of the team nearly a decade ago, and their team has only strengthened over the years with the addition of Andrew and Owen. Their breakthrough came in 2023 when they clinched the Runback U18 title, rallying through tough matchups and bringing Uxbridge its first championship banner in nearly 40 years. Training out of the Uxbridge Curling Club, the team dedicates countless hours to their skill development under the direction of Coach Fisher with the ultimate goal of reaching nationals in the U18 division. Supported by their club, sponsors, and Kevin Greenwood, who serves as the team manager, Team Fisher is proving that they’re a force to be reckoned with in the world of competitive curling.
Andrew Jackson: Lead
For 16-year-old Andrew Jackson, curling isn’t just a sport – it’s a family tradition. Introduced to the game by his mom, grandfather, and aunt, Andrew fell in love with curling at the age of seven and has been honing his skills ever since. His competitive drive was fueled by early success and the guidance of their dedicated coach, leading him to a proud second-place finish at the U18 Provincials, a defining moment in his young career. Training consists of practices in a Port Perry league, gym sessions, and refining his precision with throwing takeouts and difficult shots. With the unwavering support of his coaches and family, Andrew stays motivated by constantly pushing his limits. Looking ahead, his sights are set on Provincials and even Nationals in the near future.
Owen Porteous: Second
Port Perry’s own Owen Porteous has been curling since he was just four years old, starting in the Little Rocks program at the Lindsay Curling Club. After Team Fisher found success in local bonspiels and competitions, he knew he wanted to compete at a higher level. Now playing Second for the team, Owen trains on-ice four to five days a week, running drills, working closely with his coaches to refine their game. His proudest achievements include winning the 2023 U18 Runback and securing silver at the 2025 U18 Provincials this year. Team Fisher is set to compete in both the U18 and U20 divisions, with hopes of qualifying for the Ontario Winter Games in the 2025/2026 season. While he enjoys building strength and improving his skills, he says the toughest part has been managing minor injuries along the way. Owen credits his coach, team manager, and family for all their support. His short-term goal is to continue with Team Fisher for the 2025/2026 seasons, while his long-term vision includes competing at college level and in Canada-wide competitions.
Alexander Greenwood: Third
At 15, Uxbridge Secondary School student Alexander Greenwood has already built a strong curling résumé. He started in Port Perry’s Little Rocks program at just six years old, following his family’s passion for the sport. Teaming up with his current Skip, Ryne Fisher, at seven, he’s competed ever since. Alexander’s passion for the sport increased after making the jump to competing at the U18 level and seeing that level of play. A silver medal win at the 2025 U18 Provincials is his proudest moment thus far. This was the first year they were really setting a goal for themselves and did better than just meet those goals in the end. With only high school provincials ahead this year, his focus shifts to next season. Alexander credits Coach Fisher and his dad, Kevin Greenwood for their support on and off the ice. Alexander hopes to do well next season with Team Fisher, and in the long-term, he wants to be on TV one day, playing with the best in the world.
Ryne Fisher: Skip
Ryne Fisher was introduced to the sport of curling at a very early age, crediting his dad for teaching him how to play. This dedicated curler is leading Team Fisher as their Skip. Ryne cites his inspiration to curl competitively came after watching elite players on TV and seeing how good they were. A pivotal moment came during practice a few years ago when he recognized the team’s potential and knew they could achieve something special. Training is a mix of gym sessions and on-ice practice, with plenty of league games to help sharpen their skills ahead of competitions. He thrives on the challenge of throwing difficult shots but admits the most difficult part of training is improving on the technical parts of his slide. As the leader of his team, Ryne continues to push himself and his teammates to compete at the highest level.
Figure Skating: Alicia Smith
For Uxbridge-based figure skater Alicia Smith, the ice is more than just a surface – it’s a place to express herself and chase her dreams. Off the ice, she holds a passion for all things sports but is also active in other pursuits like singing, dancing and many other creative endeavours. Alicia is driven by a love for family and the programs she’s involved in – like “Precious Minds” in Uxbridge and at “Sunrise Youth Group” in Whitby.
Alicia first laced up her skates at 12 when her elementary school teacher, Mrs. Jenny Metzner recognized her skill after seeing her rollerblading and encouraged her to try figure skating. It was Mrs. Metzner along with her first coach at the Uxbridge Skating Club, Trinette Goarley, who inspired Alicia to skate competitively. Since then, Alicia has trained tirelessly, competing at the highest levels of Special Olympics and Canadian figure skating. Inspired by legends like Elvis Stojko, Patrick Chan, and Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, she has performed on national stages, including the Canada Winter Games. A standout moment came in 2019 when
she was invited to skate at Rock the Rink in Peterborough and introduced by none other than Tessa and Scott themselves. She even got to skate with Elvis Stojko and Patrick Chan!
Alicia’s training routine is a mix of onice and off-ice work, skating three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, while also volunteering as a Program Assistant, helping young skaters find their footing.
When preparing for competitions, her longtime coach, Alison MacLean, leads her through warm-ups, strategy
discussions, and mental preparation, helping her to stay positive when under pressure. Choosing music and
choreographing her solos are her favourite parts of training, allowing her to bring that creativity and emotion to the ice. Landing difficult jumps remains the hardest part as some of them are very challenging to execute.
Over the years, Alicia has competed at multiple Canada Winter Games, with her most recent silver-medal finish in Calgary standing out as a career highlight. Her parents and two of her siblings were there to cheer her on – a very proud moment! Another was competing in Newfoundland, where her sister flew out to surprise her and help with hair and makeup, making the experience even more special. Alicia was invited to the World Championships in Russia, but the event was unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic and ongoing war, but that dream isn’t over yet with her goal to qualify for Worlds competition in the next few years, pushing herself through provincials and nationals to earn that spot.
Alicia credits her parents and siblings for being her biggest supporters over the years, along with coach Alison
MacLean, who has been her coach for over 10 years. Alicia tells us Alison has supported her so much as a person and in her sport and has been a wonderful mentor – she’s so thankful for all she does! With the love and support from her family and her coach, she continues to chase her goals, proving that
determination and passion can take you anywhere – even a world stage.
Swimming: Chloe Walker
At just 14 years old, Chloe Walker is a Zephyr-based swimmer making waves in the Canadian swimming scene.
As a Grade 9 student at Uxbridge Secondary School, Chloe balances an intense training schedule with school
and family time. While she has a love for multiple sports, including soccer, hockey, and volleyball, swimming quickly became her passion. Inspired by seeing competitive swimmers train at Uxpool before her lessons, she joined a pre-competitive program at six years old, hoping to one day be as fast as them and has been committed to the sport ever since. Chloe had her very first competitive swim meet at seven years old. Now, she swims 8-9 times a week, often starting her day at four in the morning and also doing dry land workouts three times a week. All this while attending to her studies and home life!
Chloe’s hard work has paid off with impressive achievements, including qualifying for the Canadian Olympic Trials, winning silver in the 200m Freestyle at the Canadian Swimming Nationals, and receiving the Summer McIntosh INSPIRE Recognition Award. Most recently she was competing at the Luxembourg Euro Meet, her
first international event, where she represented Team Ontario against swimmers from across Europe. She thrived under the pressure, overcoming obstacles like jet lag and fatigue and swam a best time while there.
With major competitions in the near future, 2025 will be a big year. Chloe will compete at the Speedo Canadian
Swimming Open in Edmonton, AB this April, followed by the Canadian Swimming Trials in Victoria, BC in June, where she hopes to secure a spot on Team Canada for the Canada Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland this coming August. What’s her longterm goal? To one day represent Canada at the Olympics!
Whether it’s the early morning drives, the healthy nutritious meals, or when she needs a hug, her parents are
there for every step of the journey. With a strong foundation in elite coaching, Chloe also commends
Sarah Steinke for going above and beyond. Not only providing carefully created workouts but also offering
feedback and encouragement that helps her improve every day. Chloe’s success wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of her family, coach, and her teammates at Uxbridge Swim Club (USC). USC is more than just a swim team – it’s a family.
There’s no shortage of local talent and these rising stars are proof of that. Let’s make a conscious effort to get involved and support our athletes!
Support Team Fisher and the Uxbridge Curling Club. Follow them on Facebook & Instagram: @teamfishercurls
USC welcomes swimmers of all levels. Reach out to coach Sarah at coachsteinke@gmail.com for more information on tryouts, registration, or getting involved!
If you would like to support Alicia, you can do so by contacting the Uxbridge Skating Club or Special Olympics Ontario.
