May 2010 U.S. Curling News by USA Curling

May 2010

Volume 65, Number 5

Introducing...

www.usacurl.org

U N I T E D

Established 1945

$2.50

S T AT E S

CURLING NEWS

...Podium Gold See our complete line at Goldline.ca, or request a catalogue at ellen@goldline.ca 1 800 465 6900

1958-2008

Celebrating 50 Years of Good Curling USA men play for bronze, P. 14

Senior men bring home gold by Terry Kolesar, Editor

Brown rink captures national title, P. 13

INSIDE: NEW PRESIDENT: First female president elected to WCF. Page 2. NC EXPANDS : Charlotte gets a curling club. Page 3 COLLEGE CHAMPS: UW-Oshkosh team wins tournament. Page 6. TOP TEAMS: National champions crowned. Pages 12-13. OPTIMISTS: Youngsters compete in Regina. Page 16. REPEAT!: Seattle team dominates mixed championship. Page 20.

DEPARTMENTS Bonspiel Results – P16-19 College Curling – P6-7 Comics–P2 Curler’s Calendar–P9 Member Services–P3 Rocket Exhaust–P7 Tales from Sheet 9–P5 USWCA – P4

aul Pustovar and the American men defeated Canada, 4-3, to win gold at the 2010 World Senior Championships at the Ural Lightning Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Pustovar (Hibbing, Minn.) and teammates Brian Simonson (Hibbing, Minn.), Tom Harms (Pengilly, Minn.), Don Mohawk (Nashwauk, Minn.) and Dale Gibbs (Woodbury, Minn.) won the first gold medal for USA at this event since 2002, the year it debuted. “I’m elated; it’s a fantastic feeling – after all that practice and all that work that we’ve done in the last couple of years and actually all the practice in my entire life,” said Pustovar, who

2010 World Senior gold medalists (l-r) Paul Pustovar, Brian Simonson, Tom Harms, Don Mohawk and Dale Gibbs. Photo supplied by World Curling Federation

has represented the U.S. at five world men’s championships and now two world

Bronze!!

USA team members embrace moments after winning the bronze-medal game at the 2010 World Junior Women’s Championship in Switzerland. Read more on Page 11. Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation

T H E

I C E

S P O R T

O F

senior events. The U.S. tied the game in the eighth with a steal to

Continued on Page 9

Team leader earns Inspiration Award In 2010, OC Tanner extended appreciation to those who have inspired Olympic and Paralympic greatness. The O.C. Tanner Inspiration Award honors those frequently left behind the scenes. Those who ignited the spark. Encouraged the dream. Awakened the quest for glory. A parent, a neighbor, a teacher. A teammate, a brother, a friend. It honors those who will never receive a medal of their own. But instead made it possible for someone else. OC Tanner received 48 nominations from 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Team USA athletes. More than 1 million votes were cast to select the individuals who supported, encouraged and believed in Team USA athletes. Selected honorees received The Inspiration Award, a 14K gold commemorative ring bearing the laurel crown from the ancient Olympic games, designed by O.C. Tanner. Congratulations to the

F I T N E S S

A N D

DePerno

following Olympians and Paralympians who honored their mentors with the O.C. Tanner Inspiration Award: Nick Baumgartner, Snowboard Olympian Curtis Tomasevicz, Bobsled Olympian Noelle Pikus-Pace, Skeleton Olympian Stephani Victor, Alpine Skiing Paralympian James Joseph, Wheelchair Curling Paralympian Alana Nichols, Alpine Skiing Paralympian Continued on Page 8

F I N E S S E

VOLUME 65, No. 5

MAY 2010

Official publication of the United States Curling Association Editor — Terry Kolesar Associate Editor—Rick Patzke Contributing Editor—David Garber Design: Terry Kolesar Next editorial deadline: September 2010 The United States Curling News (ISSN 1064-3001; USPS 392-020) is published five times per year in October, November, February, March and May by the United States Curling Association. The USCA and Curling News office is located at 5525 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482. Telephone 715-344-1199. Subscription price for non-USCA members: $16 per year (North America), $26 per year (overseas), payable in US currency. Single copy price: $2.50. Advertising rates on request. Established 1945. Periodicals postage paid at Waupaca, Wisconsin, and additional offices as requested. Postmaster sends address changes to US Curling News, 5525 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482. United States Curling Association Officers President Leland Rich Vice Presidents Kent Beadle James Pleasants Chris Sjue Treasurer Jack Bernauer Secretary Dave Carlson Directors Albert M. Anderson** [2012] Paul Badgero [2012] Kent Beadle [2012] John Benton (AAC) [2010] Jack Bernauer* [2010] Geoffrey Broadhurst [2010] Maureen Brunt (AAC) [2010] Dave Carlson [2010] Janet Farr (USWCA) [2012] Kathleen Harlow [2010] Chrissy Haase (AAC) [2010] Peggy Hatch** [2011] Cyndee Johnson [2011] Nicole Joraanstad (AAC) [2010] Kellie Krake [2012] Jerome Larson [2012]

Jan Legacie [2010] Richard Maskel (AAC) [2010] Gordon Maclean [2013] Tom O’Connor (AAC) [2010] Bob Pelletier [2012] James Pleasants [2010] Leland Rich [2011] Sean Silver [2012] Chris Sjue [2010] Tim Solie [2010] Mark Swandby [2011] Beau Welling* [2010] Sam Williams [2011] * Board-elected ** Voice, no vote

USA Curling National Office 5525 Clem’s Way Stevens Point, WI 54482 Office: 715-344-1199 • Fax: 715-344-2279 E-mail: info@usacurl.org • Web site: www.usacurl.org CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Rick Patzke, rick.patzke@usacurl.org DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES: Bev Schroeder, beverly.schroeder@usacurl.org DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: Terry Kolesar, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org CONTROLLER: Sandy Robinson, sandy.robinson@usacurl.org EVENT SERVICES COORDINATOR: Dawn Leurquin, dawn.leurquin@usacurl.org

Off-site staff: Sports Psychology Consultant Dr. John Coumbe-Lilley Coaching Development Director Scott Higgins National Wheelchair Development Coach Steve Brown National Wheelchair Curling Outreach Development Director Marc DePerno Head Ice Technician Dave Staveteig Head Games Official Bill Forsythe

AMERICAN CURLING FOUNDATION & MUSEUM The Museum is located at the Chicago Curling Club, 555 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062 CURATOR: James M. Miller Jr. 2011 Glendale Ave. Northbrook, IL 60062 847-272-7224

UNITED STATES WOMEN’S CURLING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jennifer Stannard FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Nancy Seitz SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Maureen Guay SECRETARY Jill Owens TREASURER Jean Vorachek USCA LIASION Janet Farr PROMOTIONS & Loraine Waybourn PUBLIC RELATIONS

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

WCF elects new president; tiebreakers & extra ends remain part of world play by Joanna Kelly, World Curling Federation The World Curling Federation has elected Kate Caithness from Scotland as president. Caithness, who has been serving as vice president since 2006, was elected to the post, gathering more votes than Les Harrison who was seeking re-election, at the annual general meeting of the Federation in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in April. Caithness becomes the first female president of the Olympic winter sport federation of curling. She has been involved with curling since the early 1980s. From being President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club Ladies Branch (19971998), she moved on to get involved with the World Curling Federation. Since 2000 she has been the driving force behind the World Curling Federation’s development of wheelchair curling and was instrumental in obtaining the admission of the sport into the Paralympic Winter Games program in Turin in 2006. Switzerland’s Patrick Hürlimann was appointed vice president, taking the role that Caithness vacated.

Caithness

Executive Board: President: Kate Caithness (Scotland) Vice president: Patrick Hürlimann (Switzerland) Director of finance: Andy Anderson (USA) Members at Large: Graham Prouse (Canada) Young C Kim (Korea) Leif Öhman (Sweden) Niels Larsen (Denmark) Among the other decisions made at the annual general meeting held during the Capital One World Men’s Curling Championship, WCF Member Associations also voted to: • Not reduce the game from 10 ends to 8 ends • Maintain tiebreaker games to determine playoff

teams • Keep extra ends • Reduce timeouts to one 60-second coach interaction with the time clock running • Allow electric wheelchairs at WCF wheelchair curling events • Prohibit communications between the coach bench and anyone who is not sitting in that designated area. • Move the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and World Senior Curling Championships from April to the month of November, starting in November 2012 These decisions will be reflected in the new WCF Rule Book which will be issued on June 1. In other business, Slovenia was accepted as the 46th member association of the World Curling Federation. A presentation of a silver salver was made to former European Curling Federation President Malcolm Richardson – winner of the 2010 Elmer Freytag Award. The next WCF General Assembly will take place on Dec. 9 in Champery, Switzerland.

USA’s Anderson named WCF’s director of finance ndy Anderson (Glenview, Ill.) was elected director of finance for the World Curling Federation at the association’s spring meeting held in April in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Anderson replaces Warren Lowe (Fergus Falls, Minn.) who

Anderson

resigned from the post in April. Anderson joined the USCA Board of Directors as an Illinois director in April 1990 and has served as both a memberelected and as a board-elected director. He was elected as a WCF representative and has served in that role since April 2002. As a member of the WCF Executive Board, he can no longer continue to serve as a USCA representative to the WCF and will be replaced by USCA Director Beau Welling (Asheville, N.C.) as was determined at the USCA spring board meeting.

The Funny Side

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

Your contact: Bev Schroeder, beverly.schroeder@usacurl.org; 1-888-287-5377, Ext. 203

A look inside: How curling arrived in Charlotte The following information is a diary of sorts from Ronda Harlow on the history of how the Charlotte Centre Curling Club got started in North Carolina: In October of 2009, I joined Triangle Curling Club for a Level 1 Instructor clinic. Sue Mitchell advised of key things to do to get awareness of the club: facebook, website, logo, etc. Sue provided us literature on the game, the rules, and the other GNCC clubs. She warned us that with the Olympics right around the corner, we needed to move fast to ensure that we were ready when the Olympic inquiries started. On the ride back from that event, we landed on a name for the club. By the end of the weekend, we had purchased a web domain name and created a Facebook page Within two weeks, we met with a web hosting group and had an active web site. Going into January, we began working to secure a partnership with a local ice arena. We also started soliciting the GNCC for instructions on membership and a rock lease program. We also began working on club by-laws using a sample from an existing club, provided to us by the GNCC. I was provided the local contact information for a Charlotte person who had previously attempted to start a club. He had experience from the Chicago Curling Club and was anxious to help get things going. The weekend prior to the 2010 Olympics, web traffic and email inquiries began to pick up significantly. We helped the TCC with a pre-Olympic open house for the media, this helped us get a hang of the format. The local NBC station requested a one-on-one lesson for footage of local sports connections as part of their Olympic coverage. That led to other TV station, radio and also newspaper articles. We benefited from a lot of great press during the excitement of the Olympics. We decided to host a viewing party the Saturday following the start of the Olympic curling action to watch the U.S. men’s team take on Sweden. Even though it was the first Saturday of beautiful weather, we still had a great turnout of almost 30 people. With planning the

What else is going on?? By Bev Schroeder, Director of Member Services

Open houses in Charlotte were a big attraction this spring. The club became a member of the GNCC and USCA this year and is steadily building its membership. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Centre Curling Club

event only three days ahead of time and only announcing it on Facebook, we were pleased. We used this viewing party to elect a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary and also placed a rock fund donation jar out. By the way, our VP (found at the viewing party) is a 50-year curling vet and more importantly – an ice technician! This was a key find for us. Without his ice knowledge, we would be suffering! We were very fortunate to have someone like him in our area. The following Saturday we had the first meeting of our officers. This was an important meeting to establish priorities, and a highlevel game plan for the next six months. This was the most challenging time of the entire start-up process. We were trying to gain alignment on bylaws, determine the steps for incorporation, get a state Tax ID, a bank account, 501c3 status (so people would be more willing to make donations to the club), insurance, rocks, and equipment. We also had a promotional event coming up soon which we wanted to have club T-shirts for, so landing on the logo was important. We had to establish incorporation before getting a tax ID. Once we had those two things, we could open a bank account. 501c3 status was the next item to learn about. We have the documents ready but are waiting two months to file as the rates will go down significantly soon. If there is an area that we could have used more guidance on, it would have been all of the club incorporation and administration. We had to do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions, right

when we were also trying to manage hundreds of membership inquiries, ice arrangements, etc. Funding was another challenge for us, as it is with any club. Quite a bit of our initial funding came from the club officers. A lot of the basic equipment was purchased with the intention of making them a charitable donation. Other members made purchases, submitting receipts with the direction that those reimbursements should be a secondary priority – after paying required expenses such as ice rental. We borrowed stones and hacks from the Triangle Club and that allowed us to get people on the ice as early as March 7 while waiting to receive approval on our club application and lease rocks through the GNCC. We found out that we were accepted as a club, and would be getting rocks soon, during our very first Learn to Curl on March 7. Our VP is a curling vet and works in promotions. He was able to run with getting our initial order of T-shirts, which we would wear during a promotional event with our local hockey team and sell what was left over. We also gave him the nod to run with ordering logo nametags, pins, and patches with the intent to use these as a source of income for the club. Our treasurer is new to curling, however is the chief financial officer of his company. His financial background was key to setting up the bank accounts, non-profit status, and tax ID. Our secretary is an experienced curler and a computer programmer by profession. He was able to

The 2010 Olympics created hundreds of inquires of all types. The USCA website had more than 34 million hits/1.8 million visitors through the curling competition. The office sent out approximately 225 “How to Start a Curling Club” packets to individuals from 42 states. The majority of the inquiries were from Florida, Georgia and Iowa. Volunteers stepped up to assist the staff with answering e-mails and putting together the many packets. It was greatly appreciated that so many took the time from their busy schedules to help us out. Approximately 34 Olympic open house surveys were returned to the office, with about half being arena clubs. For the clubs that responded, they conducted 99 nights of open houses with over 12,000 individuals introduced to curling. Learn to Curls and Open Houses are still occurring in various areas of the U.S. USA Curling will be receiving 28 sets of stones from the World Curling Federation under their deferred payment program. The stones were shipped from Scotland and are expected to arrive in Chicago the first week in May. As in 2006, Kay Sugahara has again donated the shipping costs from Scotland to Stevens Point, Wis. We can’t thank him enough for his dedication to the sport and the growth of curling in the United States. Potential new clubs are Palmetto Curling Club, S.C.; Hayward, Wis.; Orange County, Calif.; Valencia, Calif.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Fort Wayne, Ind. There is also interest in Klamath Falls, Ore., and Wichita, Kan. Clubs that are in pending status for USA Curling membership are Oklahoma Curling Club in Norman, Okla., and Whitefish Curling Club in Whitefish, Mont.

build databases that tracked memberships and also arranged our league setups. We have over 25 members now. We just received our GNCC lease rocks two weeks ago and put them to use this past weekend during our third Learn to Curl. We are working hard to get lines into the ice within the next few weeks. Our biggest challenge now is bringing our membership costs down so they are more appealing to a

wider audience. As with other arena clubs, ice rental rates are the big expense driving membership costs up. My biggest advice to a new startup club is to find a partner club. We would not be where we are without the help of the Triangle Club. They were a wealth of information and support – not to mention letting us borrow a few pieces of equipment while we waited to receive ours.

Certiﬁcations Level I Instructor Debbie Basrak Joey Bata Rob Carr Cory Christensen Kathy Cos Peter Dam Jon Fiskness Cheryl Anne Hager Mark Hartman Gary Hicks Jennifer Houk Mindy Kosmin Dan Lindgren Matthew J. Lyons Gordon Maclean Mike Maksimchuk Brenda Mason Tracie B. Moore

Margie Nelson Davinna Ohlson Colin Rittgers Michele Rittgers Sean Stevinson Fred Strautman Richard Warner Dan Wennberg Julie Wennberg Okan Yurdakok Level II Instructor Charles Brown Charlene Fitzgerald John Fitzgerald Mark Hartman Dan Lindgren Fred Mackintosh Loreen Makishima

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Seitz named USWCA’s 63rd president by Nancy Seitz, Incoming USWCA president

ince 1947, the United States Women’s Curling Association has served curlers and promoted the growth of their sport across the country. As I take my place as the 63rd president, I am awed by the dedication and determination that has preceded me, and I am inspired by the sense of purpose that invigorates the USWCA today. Women with the enthusiasm to share their time and talents have built successful programs over the years and today are expanding to support curlers in more ways for the future. In order to achieve our mission “to develop, nurture and promote the sport of curling among today’s women and youth,” USWCA reaches out to

Nancy Seitz new and member clubs with information, youth equipment and junior bonspiels. Programs like the Women’s Five and Under and the AllAmerican Event have lately expanded to include mixed events that serve our newer male members and allow smaller clubs greater event participation. While we have long

served our members with the annual USWCA National Women’s Bonspiel and National Senior Women’s Bonspiel, this year sees the launch of a new initiative aimed at serving women who have come to the sport as fans of elite-level Olympic curling. With a passion to improve skills, build expertise and compete at an advanced level, these women have inspired the creation of the USWCA Women’s Curling Circuit. This new cashprize event supports existing Women’s Bonspiels at individual clubs by using those events as the forum for an annual season-long competition. In addition to our own curling events, the Women’s Curling Development Fund channels grant dollars to young individuals and teams that apply for funds to travel, compete and attend train-

ing. Providing opportunities for curlers is our mission, but programs don’t thrive if only a few people know about them. Key to our success in the 21st century hinges on good communication and we are working to keep people informed on all levels. Maintaining our relationship with the USCA and regional curling organizations serves everyone through the exchange of information and ideas; and contributing to the Curling News is a valuable way of reaching our constituency. But, making sure our members and prospective clubs know about the opportunities we offer as well as spreading the good news of curling to casual inquiries demands an interactive website and a responsive team of people assuring its accuracy and timely updates. Several years have

gone into making the new www.uswca.org website, and I hope you will check in online and find out more about the work we do. When I discovered curling, I found much more than ice and rocks and brooms. What a world of friends! These are committed devotees, dedicated teachers and passionate competitors whose interest in the sport extends to its traditions of good sportsmanship and to its unique blend of athletics, strategy and camaraderie. How could you not fall in love with this game and these people? As I take up the gavel that called women to their work on behalf of curling in 1950, I look forward to helping USWCA give back to the sport that earned a place in my heart. Indeed, as our mission says, USWCA is The Heart of Curling!

Clubs across U.S. take part in All-American by Gloria Martino, Chairwomen, USWCA All-American

he USWCA All-American is a wonderful in-club event with a national flavor - clubs all over America hold the event on their home ice. Thank you to all the chairpersons and their committees who coordinated their events and all those who worked toward making their All-American extra special and unique. Many clubs reported very competitive games and exciting finals whose outcome came down to the last stone. Broomstones had a very interesting theme this year: “All-American Home Cooking.” It was a great success and sounds as though it was delicious too! Again this year, Seattle hosted a multi club ‘spiel and the participants included some junior girls. Six clubs hosted two events – a.m. for their morning league and p.m. for their evening league – including East: Nutmeg, Plainfield; Central: Chicago, Mayfield; Wisconsin: Kettle Moraine and Poynette. The USWCA provides beautiful award pins for the winners of each event, and we are proud to announce the winning teams (skip names first) for the 2009-10 curling season: EAST: Albany: Gloria Martino, Gladys Ryan, Chris Gordon, Betty Kelly Ardsley: Sandy Gaffner, Heather Morrison, Mellisa Dominguez, Susan Lapham

Belfast: Doris Allred, Karen Macdonald, Tilly Atkins, Ellen Smith Broomstones: Sharon Cuter, Teri Olson, Marsha Edmunds, Anna Legedza Canadian Club: Joan Partridge, Betty Gulesian, Dick Nestle, Kate VanDemark/Ellie Manseau Cape Cod: Martha Kenny, Martha Balas, Linda Pistilli, Jane Hannon Chesapeake: Majik Jones, Laura Heuer, Pam Parks, Peggy Troiano Nashua: Candice Clark, Pat Cobb, Joan Ford, Allison Annard Nutmeg a.m.: Diane Muldowney, Kathleen Blaine/Bobbie Stoll, Micky Manicatide, Jay Keillor Nutmeg p.m.: Elly Bockley, Kathleeen Blaine, Julie Pasnau, Nancy Brautigam Philadelphia: Laura Hallisey, Sharon Duke, Joyce Van Schooneveld, Nanci Smith Plainfield a.m.: Sarah McCulloh, Emily Pike, Linda Carubia, Anne Buckalew Plainfield p.m.: Sarah McCulloh, Rachel Henogason, Shara Dellatore, Grace Roth Potomac: Rebecca Baxter, Laura Barrantes, Cathy Dunn, Carol Voss Rochester: Val Swol, Kathy Lomnicki, Mary Amato, Heidi Kipp Schenectady: Fay Navratil, Laura Knussman, Barb Kimmey, Jenn Wood The Country Club: Lee Ladd, Emmie Newell, Scoopy Stevens, Cory Alexandre Utica: Melon Sofinski, Brenda Card/MJ Walsh, David Palazzoli, Cindy Wydysh CENTRAL Bowling Green: Joan Freeman,

Scott Helle, Allen Rogel, Ruth Brown Chicago a.m.: Judy Johnson, Elizabeth Demsos, Roseanne Madden, Monica Burmeister Chicago p.m.: Liz Reid, Donna Slabas, Carol Cleave, Janine Andrasco Cleveland: Suzanne Dick, Hilary Peterson, Kim Barton, Kate Offutt Detroit: Karen Jamieson, Jennifer Parmenter, Diana Jankowski, Maxine Gardner Exmoor: Marcy Calaway, Angela Pyle, Katy Gross, Hillary Benson Mayfield a.m.: Dee Montgomery, Ann Hull, Bonnie Carlson, Martina McIsaac Mayfield p.m.: Else Festersen, Courtney Schmidt, Liz Lewis, Julia Dibaggio North Shore: Mary Hilman, Pat Turocy, Carol Falasz, Therese Anderson WISCONSIN: Appleton: Jeri Norris, Wendy Walecka, Connie Gluth/Donna Mendyke, Nina Vought Blackhawk: Ceila Zaccard, Doris Ewing, Joanne Picket, Cathy Idzerda Centerville: Lynita Delaney, Rhonda Adams, Mary Veglahn, Kelly Smith, Laura Roessler Green Bay: Joy Pohl, Molly Witt/Erin Wallace, Tristen Zimmerman, Ellie Jarvie Kettle Moraine a.m.: Judy Maier, Janis Duncan, Mary Rasmussen, Ali Bedborough Kettle Moraine p.m.: Felice Roberts, Jenna Kaschinske, Raschel Tomlinson, Chelsea Rasmussen Madison: Kathy Peilage, Bridget Matzke, Sandii Zylkowski, Ellen

Roney Medford: Andrea Metz, Missy Brunner, Jeri Koester, Misty Hartmann, Jodie Drost Milwaukee: Linda Even, Carmen Witt, Claire Berquist, Nikki Bernetich Poynette a.m.: Marilyn Noble, Mary MacLeish, Sumiko Maeda, Suzanne Floyd Poynette p.m.: Marilyn Noble, Mary Cooper, Brittany Falk, Penny Mularkey Racine: Diane Kelly, Amanda Hyttel, Jody Erdman, Michele Mast Wauwatosa: Stacey Bast, Jill Sorenson, Sue Dropp, Molly Lundberg/Laura Schroeder WEST I Arden Hills: Sally Augustin, Shirl Chartrand, Nancy Nelson, Fran Sorenson Duluth: Kerry McLeod, Sarah McLeod, Shawn Peterka, Sarah Chandler Heather-Mapleton: Mindy Annis, Jody Trio, Brenda Stoltzman, Theresa Sohre Hibbing: JoAnn Getz, Jane Miettunen, Carol Peterson, Sue Pearson, Kathy Marturano St. Paul: Teri Murie, Conni Normandeau, Maureen Guay, Rose Marie Barton WEST II Coyotes: Karen Tait, Janelle Lowe, Chad Jordan, Greg Gallagher Grafton: Vicki Aasand, Mary Jaster, Julie Callahan, Rachel Tharalson Grand Forks: Erin Randall, Susan Stern, Natasha Adamson, Ashleigh Staveteig Seattle: Mary Melton, Linda Cornfield, Davinna Ohlson (San Francisco) and Emily Skulec

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

Emerging trends in the non-profit governance model

ait long enough and expert opinion will change. The subject is the size and nature of a board of directors for non-profits like the U.S. Olympic Committee. Over time, some critics felt the USOC board was too large, too inefficient, too expensive. Others felt big was not necessarily bad: big meant representative and actually forced transparency because people representing diverse groups were on the board; big meant many smart, dedicated volunteers were available to do work (although critics pointed to conflicts of interest among volunteers). For decades until 2003, the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors was made up of representatives of its members, including a minimum of 20 percent athletes elected by athletes, as required by the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. This constituent-based board was large, peaking at about 125. The USOC Executive Committee alone included more than 20 people. Board meetings were large affairs, but by showcasing Olympians and others, the meetings also served to inspire hundreds of staff and volunteers to great efforts, and to demonstrate the worldwide scope of the Olympic movement. The issue of board size simmered in the background. Then, before 2003, the USOC suffered several scandals. In one case, it was revealed that the volunteer president had falsified her resume, claiming a non-existent doctorate. In addition, two highly paid CEOs were hired from private industry and quickly fired when their plans and styles did not mesh with the USOC culture. The management seemed to be a shambles. Congress stepped in and forced changes (as if the government is expert about honest and efficient governance!). Earlier, the USOC had paid a national consulting firm for governance advice. In this writers’ experience with both private and nonprofit administration, using national consulting firms often means using the services of young MBAs with little real-life experience, and paying their firms’ senior managers handsomely for what is often unenlightened but trendy “management school” advice. In the late 90s, the trend was to reduce board size in the name of efficiency, and to get rid of pesky constituents on boards by favoring “independent” directors. Of course, this resulted in situations like Enron, in which “independent” board members are beholden to the chairman. [Concurrent with the governance changes described in this article, the USOC fulfilled its mission with a great

Tales From Sheet Nine

David Garber, djgarber@charter.net medal performance at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. In the opinion of this writer, this success was owed to the provision by the USOC and through the NGBs of a great deal of additional money for athletes use in training and preOlympic competition. After 1998’s relatively poor performance in Nagano, the USOC developed Peak Grants and other programs, which worked, and had utterly nothing to do with the governance model of the time. It had to do with the strong USOC leadership in the 1990s.] In the aftermath of the scandals, USOC management was cleaned out, and the USOC board reduced to 11 or so people, mostly “independents.” The USA again did well in Torino in 2006, also due to spending money on athletes, not the new governance regime. But the USOC was seen as arrogant by its member NGBs, which had been cut out of the governance process. The USOC was quick to pressure its member NGBs to adapt its trendy new governance model. Once again, critics’ voices rose, and once again, major USOC failures allowed critics to press a case for change. In the late winter of 2010, news broke of the most recent trend in non-profit governance, from which I, with some glee, extract the following article: COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) — A U.S. Olympic Committee advisory panel recommends expanding the board of directors from 11 to 15 people as one strategy to get more Olympic insiders in on the decision-making process. The panel, led by former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, released its findings Friday, and the USOC board began discussing the 24-page report at its quarterly meeting in Colorado Springs. USOC chairman Larry Probst said he expected many of the recommendations to be enacted. “My quick read is that … the recommendations, are very thoughtful,” Probst said. “They are … evolutionary changes to the board’s size, structure and operating poli-

cies.” The advisory panel was formed last year, after several months of tumult that included two changes at CEO and Chicago’s embarrassing last-place finish in the race to host the 2016 Olympics; Rio de Janeiro won the bid. Although the panel did not recommend wholesale changes, it didn’t hold back its criticisms. “For too many years, the USOC has suffered from the high turnover of chief executives and others in leadership positions, from a lack of continuity in strategy, and from a lack of transparency that accompanied much of that instability,” Tagliabue wrote in the report: “These activities have been very negative not just in shaping public perceptions of the USOC, but also in having had long-lasting deleterious effects on the trust, credibility and confidence of many key constituencies and partners,” he wrote. The report calls for one of the four new proposed board members to come from the Athletes’ Advisory Council and another from among the leadership of the national governing bodies of Olympic sports. The two others would be “independent” members, including a Paralympic representative who would chair a Paralympic advisory council. In 2003, in the wake of scandals that led to congres-

sional hearings, the board was reduced from 125 members to 11. The panel said that move was good overall, but needed slight adjustments — including adding the USOC’s new CEO, Scott Blackmun, to the board as a nonvoting member. The advisory committee also said the chairman of the board’s term should be increased and that person’s role in international relations clarified. The report recommended several other adjustments it described as “finetuning,” much of which would give board members more time to learn the complexities of the USOC and build relationships domestically and abroad. Those included doubling the twoyear renewal terms for directors, injecting more transparency into the board’s actions and making the CEO the point person on all communications. The report emphasized the board should, as a way to increase the talent pool, eliminate the requirement that board members nominated by the AAC or the National Governing Body Council sever ties with their organization as a condition of service. “It broadens the pool,” said USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus, who applauded the report. “It gives us the opportunity to make sure there are people at the board table who have

intimate day-to-day knowledge of NGB life. That’s been missing for some time now.” Tagliabue, who cemented the NFL as America’s most successful and popular sport while he was commissioner from 1989-2006, said his experience in pro football was “quite instructive in terms of the NGB’s abilities to serve on the board without disqualifying themselves from their current NGB position.” He noted some of the most respected team owners and general managers “served on NFL committees, highranking committees, while they continued to have their positions at the team level, and they were able to do both. They were able to take off their team hat when they were working on a league committee and look at the common and collective interests of the league.” Since the Tagliabue panel was formed last year, Blackmun has replaced Stephanie Streeter, who was named CEO last March when the board ousted Jim Scherr, and the U.S. team led the world with 37 medals at the Vancouver Olympics. Overall, the tenor of the conversation has become more positive. Tagliabue’s report is seen as another step in the right direction. Editor’s note: The author’s views do not necessarily represent the views of the USCA.

Let’s invest in being part of the solution by Rick Patzke, Associate Editor Among its findings and recommendations, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Independent Advisory Committee on Governance said it “spent a great deal of time” discussing the optimal size and composition of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors. The USOC Board was reduced from 124 to 11 directors as part of governance reforms in 2003. The 11 include two directors selected from nominees brought forth by the Athletes Advisory Council; two from nominees by the National Governing Body Council; four independents, and three who are U.S. members of the International Olympic Committee. After lengthy deliberations and review, the Advisory Committee, chaired by Paul Tagliabue, recommended that four voting members be added to the Board. A primary reason given is that this would allow for more diverse skill sets and perspectives to be available while still ensuring that the directors would remain fully engaged and responsible for board deliberations. Other reasons and recommendations can be found in the Associated Press article David Garber included within his column, although this is just a snapshot of the entire report. Going from 11 to 15 directors—after dropping from 124 to 11—does not seem to represent a shift to “the most recent trend in non-profit governance” as much as it does a tweaking, or realization that in

seven years’ time, improvements can probably be made. Indeed, in the Advisory Committee’s words: “While our Committee proposes a range of measures to fine tune the 2003 reforms, we endorse the current structure and governance model and do not propose wholesale changes in it. Instead, our Committee’s review underscores that many of the USOC’s current and ongoing challenges have less to do with structure and governance that with the need for a sharper articulation of, and focus on, the USOC’s mission, and with the organizational talent and strategies necessary to achieve that mission.” The Committee also states that: “Systematic change of this type cannot be accomplished without patience, the aligning of interests across organizations, and consensus building. The support of the USOC’s constituencies and partners will be critical to the success of these transformative efforts.” It is always easy and often self-satisfying to deride the actions of others, from individuals to small teams, from small and larger organizations on up to the biggest governments. It is much more difficult to invest in being part of the solution. Of all the sayings that could apply here, I choose these two, and have faith that the U.S. Curling Association will, too: “It is easier to pull down than to build up.” ~Latin Proverb~ “Those who have free seats at a play hiss first.” ~Chinese Proverb~

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

College Curling Your contact: Rich Larko, larko2123@comcast.net, 847-729-0934 • www.collegecurling.org

UW-Oshkosh wins National Tournament by Rich Larko, College Curling Coordinator In spite of dwindling funds the College Curling program continues successfully and actually continues to grow all over curling land. Fifty six teams, more than 224 men and women curlers, competed in three separate competitions for college students this season. The best news is that most of the teams were new. More proof that college curling is fulfilling its goal of introducing new people and having those new to curling stick with the sport. On several recent occasions we reported on perhaps the most successful college program of all, Northwestern University Curling Club in Evanston, Ill. With help, instruction, coaching and ice time at North Shore Curling Club this model student program, in just four years, has grown to more than 40 curlers, with more than 30 turning out for practice and serious competition each Sunday afternoon.The Northwestern students are also welcome to curl in regular club events with the regular members who have recognized that college students are fast learners, young, strong sweepers and good looking. The real payoff is that these students, with proper training and coaching, have fallen in love with the sport and learned that improvement comes from hitting the bonspiel circuit. All season long at least two, sometimes three, Northwestern teams curl in various midwest bonspiels, and are being invited back because youth is a boost to aging spiels. In the short history of the club they have won more than their share of medals. Now Northwestern wants to compete in USCA events and plans to join the state association and the USCA....a perfect curling world and a good lesson for clubs all over the country. At the recent National College Tournament, against more experienced teams from around the country Northwestern fielded three teams with one, two and three years experience – they walked away with two golds and a bronze. We repeat this story simply to impress on all curlers

and clubs that, when they embrace student curling as an important club effort, college curling can truly be an important part of the future of curling. At Northwestern almost all the graduates are settling in northern areas with nearby curling clubs and joining clubs and paying dues. We have reported already on the events at Bowling Green and Kettle Moraine. The National College Tournament was held March 12-14 at the Chicago and North Shore clubs. Thirty-two teams from across the U.S. competed. If all teams had met the deadline we could have had 40 teams. A feature of this 19-yearold event is that teams are divided into separate divisions based on years of experience. That way all teams play at their own level of experience. The playing field is as level as possible. Gold, silver and bronze awards were handed out in each eight-team division. Here are the results: Division 1: Gold–University of Wisconsin Oshkosh: Will Journeaux, Kimy Rhyme, Steven Kawleski, Megan Henning Silver–Lake Superior College: Rob Carr, Sarah McLeod, Katy Haakensen, Kevin Blackwood Bronze–University of Wisconsin Madison: Casey Cucchiarelli, Nic Schleicher, Bobby Splinter, Robbi Baumann Division II: Gold–Northwestern University:Robert Sandoval, Jody Moser, Marc Palmeri, Albert Lipson Silver–Villanova University:Erik Sheets, Jared Coughlin, Ryan Kirchner, Kyle Conroy Bronze–Bowling Green State University 1: Ryan Meyer, Matt Cooper, Charles Rooney, Rachel Bruecker, Kyle Henry Division III: Gold–Northwestern University: Erik Sczygelski, Eric Mondor, Stephanie Chan, Max Wasserman Silver–NovaSee:Miggy Gutierrez, David Hooper, Teresa Hooper, Brian Maxwell Bronze–Northeast Colleges: Kevin Leahy, Alana Steinhardt, Christopher Alexander, Evan Goodman Division IV:

Gold–Carroll College 1: Tyler Tylinski, Aaron Kerr, Robin Kopec, Sarah Diederichs Silver–University of Denver: Scott Bleiweis, Charlie O’Donnell, Marty Witt Bronze–Carroll College 3: Marcus Yabuta, Nicole Pollack, Brian Voss, Brianna Mittelstadt Many thanks to 32 teams from a total of 36 schools (including combinations). Our congratulations to the award winners. And, oh, so many thanks to all the schools, clubs and individual curlers that worked so hard all season long to make this program succeed. Special appreciation to Dave Beemus, who ran the National Tournament at Chicago CC, and to Liz Reid, who ran the kitchen. Special thanks also to Ken Cooke, who ran the North Shore part of the National Tournament, and helpers Jim Martin, Bob Schmidt, Bud Barrerre, as well as Craig Carlson (daughter Alex skipped the bronzewinning team at World Juniors), and Jim and Debbie Murray at North Shore for all their help all season long. Finally, kudos to our National registrar, Robert Richardson, and Pam Oleinik for managing the College Curling website, www.collegecurling.org. We sincerely appreciate the hours and days of help from so many of you. College curling represents one of the most important recruitment and development programs in all of curling. In closing, we thank the USCA and the Chicago Community Trust for their financial support.

9 songs, including: The Skip Is Always Right Burnt Rock Blues Psycho Curler

Division 1 winners–University of Wisconsin Oshkosh: Megan Henning, Steven Kawleski, Kimy Rhyme and Will Journeaux (skip).

Division 2 winners–Northwestern University: Albert Lipson, Marc Palmeri, Jody Moser and Robert Sandoval (skip).

Division 3 winners–Northwestern University: Max Wasserman, Eric Mondor and Erik Sczygelski (skip).

Division IV winners–Carroll College 1: Sarah Diederichs, Robin Kopec, Aaron Kerr and Tyler Tylinski (skip).

Advertising disclaimer

!"#$ %&

'(!$)# *+ ,-

“None of the advertisers in this publication are agents of the U.S. Curling Association, which hereby disclaims any liability for acts of any of the advertisers.”

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

College Curling Your contact: Rich Larko, larko2123@comcast.net, 847-729-0934 • www.collegecurling.org

Strong partnerships = success for college programs by Philip Harris, co-founder, University of Denver CC

n 2006, the University of Denver (DU) would welcome its first-ever curling club as part of the club sports program. DU would also become the first college club to affiliate with the United States Curling Association (USCA). The club was founded by myself and my roommate at the time – William Reynolds. Over the course of the past four years, we have watched the club grow in popularity and have attracted many students that may not otherwise have joined the sport. Also, the DU club helped Colorado make a re-appearance on the curling stage, as only one club existed in the state prior to 2006. But the question remains - how do you get college students interested in the sport, and more importantly, provide the support that college clubs need? The answer, I believe, will be in building a strong partnership with College Curling USA (CCU) and the USCA – especially at the one-year and less experi-

America’s #1 Curling Supplier for 34 years!

Largest Selection in Country BalancePlus, Performance, ASHAM, 8-ender, Hammer, Tournament, Brownie and more. All your curling needs!

ence level. Without both CCU and the USCA, the DU club would not exist. The USCA provides the link to clubs across the country, access to bonspiels, insurance, curling stone loan programs, and the support of a full-time staff. CCU provides an opportunity for college teams – which are often not associated with the USCA as DU is – a chance to come together each March for a national tournament, and share stories, ideas, and get to know each other. CCU can also help provide funds to start a club - which most college clubs need. Getting the word out is the most important thing, followed quickly by getting students on the ice and playing games. At DU, we managed to get the word out in several ways: 1) Pioneer Carnival. Hosted twice a year, it is an event where every club at the university has a table and students are able to walk through the fair and sign up for mailing lists of clubs that interest them. 2) Big events! Qdoba Restaurants approached us and wanted to do something with us as a break during a hockey

game. “Curling for Queso” was born! During hockey intermission we ran onto the ice and had a small competition to see which “team” of four could get the most stones in the center of the face-off circle in 30 seconds. Each team represented a section, and the winning team won free chips and queso for their section. 3) Listserv. Whenever someone expresses interest, we get their email address and add them to a listserv that our school provides (Google Groups works nicely as well). We email out information every week – from regular curling events to simply all getting together to watch CurlTV - it helps keep members connected. Of course, traditional adverts work great as well, and we used our campus electronic announcement system to post a news item on the student/staff portal. Experience has shown us that we cannot retain firstyear curlers if we do not take them to the national competition – where they get to compete with other first-year curlers (CCU divides the tournament based on experience level). This motivates club mem-

Top 10 Yogi Berra Quotes on the Roarin’ Game: 10] “Ninety percent of curling is shotmaking and strategy–the other half is sweeping.” 9] “It’s always good to blank the tenth if you want hammer in the extra end.” 8] “If you don’t have any backing, don’t play a freeze.”

Same Day UPS Shipping Phone: 608-222-1691 FAX: 608-222-8114 Orders: 1-800-227-CURL E-mail: steve@stevescurling.com Web site: www.stevescurling.com

ACF&M donations accepted Donations to the American Curling Foundation and Museum, located in the Chicago Curling Club, can be sent to 555 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. The curator is James Miller Jr., 847-272-7224.

7] “I lost my gripper so I had to use an anti-slider.” 6] “When the ice speeds up, the rocks slow down.” 5] “Don’t take too much ice in case you don’t have enough broom.” 4] “When you are trying to get around a guard, remember that it ain’t by ‘til it’s by.” 3] “We had the game won until we ran out of rocks.” 2] “If you throw the wrong turn, you’d better be on negative ice.” 1] “We would’ve found a way to score if we just could’ve gotten rid of the hammer.” – Richard Maskel

bers to stay in the sport and work on developing their skills – essentially “hooking” them. Of the curlers who we send to nationals each year, all of them return for a second year. Those who do not attend, or lack curling opportunities, often drop off. In the end, starting a college club isn't an easy task but the interest is already there. Attracting members isn’t the hard part – the hard part is keeping them. Getting members invested

in the sport in their first year is the most important bit we accomplished it by becoming coaches at our own practices, making sure that members had the opportunity to curl at local clubs, and requiring that every year at least one team at College Nationals is completely first-year curlers. If the USCA and CCU work together and focus their efforts on new college-age curlers, I think that we could really grow the sport in that area.

Eight-Enders Duluth An eight-ender was scored by the Trevor Lemmon rink on March 7, 2010, at the Burt Payne Junior Bonspiel, Duluth Curling Club, Duluth, Minn. The team was playing in the C-Division and all players were 12 years old. Members of the team were Trevor Lemmon, Nick Stienhaus, Sam Huck and Seth Doering. Hibbing During the Club Championship on March 14, 1998, at the Hibbing Curling Club, the Dale Gibbs rink laid eightender. They accomplished the feat during the third end of the second event. Team members included Dale Gibbs, Gary Milani, Kevin Milani and Dan Pullar. Itasca Team Sura scored an eight-ender on Dec. 30, 2009, during the Itasca Curling Club’s Women’s league in Grand Rapids, Minn. Team members are Nancy Sura, Maren Hagen, Cathy Kilpatrick and Sandy Bromenschenkel. Broomstones The Jacobson rink from the Broomstones Curling Club stole an eight-ender during the Worchester Cup Bonspiel (hosted by The Curling Club at Brookline) on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. Team members included Adam Jacobson, Terry Smith, Amy Smith and Michael Green. Potomac The fifth eight-ender in the Potomac Curling Club’s history was scored on Dec. 16, 2009, in Laurel, Md., during the Wednesday night Capital League by the George Shirk rink. Playing with Shirk were Kenny Pellerin, Ron Aubin, and Barbara Shirk. Exmoor During the March Madness event on March 2, 2010, an eight-ender was scored by the Steve Schultz rink at the Exmoor Curling Club, Highland Park, lll. Team members included Steve Schultz, Steve Wright, Jim Calaway and Russ Brown. Mayfield An eight-ender occurred on March 17, 2010, during the last night of Men’s League at the Mayfield Curling Club, South Euclid, Ohio, by the Brian Bammel team. Members of the team included Brian Bammel, Joe Novak, Rick Drake and Tim Carcione. Granite (Seattle) The Barry VanWieringen team laid an eight-ender during regular league play on March 15, 2010, at the Granite Curling Club, Seattle, Wash. Members of the team were Barry VanWieringen, Josh Freedman, Andrea Katkansky and Jill Jackson. Green Bay The Blake Morton rink of Madison scored an eightender during the round robin play of the competitive division of the 2009 Green Bay Junior Bonspiel. Members of the team included Blake Morton, Calvin Weber, Tommy Juszczyk and Tom Gabower. Capital The Grant Feldner Rink scored an eight-ender on Jan. 27, 2010, in the Wednesday Night Late League at the Capital Curling Club in Bismarck, N.D. Curling on the team were Grant Feldner, Will Kincaid, Matt Shappell and Ward Knutson.

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Are you committed to the next Olympic cycle? My last article showing the Commitment Continuum got some interesting responses from curlers placing themselves along the continuum and reflecting on it. Several conversations that folks had with me were about answering the questions, “How do you know when someone is committed to qualifying for the Olympics?” and “How do you know someone is serious about attacking the (Olympic) podium?” I thought these were interesting questions to answer from a psychological perspective. But in order to do that, first I will show how elite performance is viewed globally in most sports that see themselves as competitive, and where mental skills training fits in. As I write this piece, I wanted to remind readers of my background too. I have been working in curling since December 2008 and was part of the support staff for the Vancouver Olympics. Recently, I began working with triathletes and my research beginning later this year will be investigating applied sport psychology in triathlon. In 2009-10 I worked with a World Cup Sevens Rugby Team and a professional boxer. I have coached at the World Cuplevel and represented my country in international competition. In addition, my academic preparation and sport qualification training has meant that the perspective I share is based Continued From Page 1 Here is Jimmy’s nomination: They say a person's true character is best demonstrated when they sacrifice their time and resources to help those in need. On October 15, 1987, I was working for Waste Management emptying a trash bin into my dump truck when I was struck from behind. A truck pinned me in between both vehicles. The extensive trauma resulted in the amputation of both my legs, but my life was spared. I was 25 years old and suddenly had no direction in life. I spent the next 16 years working random jobs and partying with my friends. I lived a life that truly had no meaning. In 2003, I learned of the Sitrin Success through Adaptive Recreation and Sports program in my neighborhood and contacted the program director. I spent 15 minutes talking

on studying, experiencing, researching and working in competitive sports over the last 20 years. I will add two things, first, curling is the most unique sport culture I have ever encountered and requires a measured approach to working effectively, and second, if you are not interested in learning about commitment, elite performance and sustained success do not read this article. Model of Sport The Model of Sport has four levels: 1) physical 2) technical 3) tactical (strategic) and 4) mental. Elite sport professionals (coaches, trainers, etc.) generally accept worldwide that without the necessary physical conditioning that optimizes technical and strategic performance and creates energy no athlete will compete consistently at the top level. Technically, an elite athlete ought to be able to do what they need to do because they have superior technique and it is consistent and proven under pressure

against top opposition. Strategy is concerned with the expert decision-making process being used in a given situation and then the effective execution of technical play to achieve the strategic goals. Great technique with lousy strategy does not achieve sustained long-term success at the elite level, and when both are inconsistent, often you get “flash in the pan” success more frequently. Finally, mental preparation is the polishing process for the elite curler. Elite coaches and athletes know that if their physical, technical and strategic preparation has been done optimally over several years, they have already been developing very strong mental skills. What is left is the one percent that makes the difference at the top level, and that should be where a sport psychology consultant brings their value. We know that someone is committed to sustained achievement and attempting Olympic qualification because we know the behaviors, beliefs and values that top athletes should act with. We also know that the behaviors of the year preceding the Olympics should be focused on the reality of competition, not “five rings fever.” Five rings fever is the phrase used in the Olympic movement to describe the excitement of the Olympics overcoming the focus to perform at your best level. Many athletes have to cope

with people around them being more excited than they are for the Olympics. This can add pressure and expectation to the athlete. Sometimes the Olympic experience seems all too surreal when in reality all it is is a sport festival where the best in the world come together. But it is just a competition. Successful Olympians often settle down and treat it as a competition. Watch the final game in the movie Hoosiers and Gene Hackman measuring the court and you’ll get the idea. Model of Participation The Model of Participation is very important to sport psychology consultants because it matches the expectations of the Commitment Continuum with the appropriate level of consultation. At the top of the pyramid there are very few people capable of competing consistently at the world and Olympic level. When we say “compete” we mean top five placing consistently in major events. If a team finishes lower than fifth on a sustained basis, it is considered not competitive at the elite level. Being elite, there is an expectation that no stone is left unturned in what legendary contributor to the field Terry Orlick describes as the Pursuit of Excellence. This means doing what is necessary and using the resources and approaches that will help top competitive play happen every time.

As we descend the pyramid, sport psychology is most useful in the developmental and competitive levels. This is because the focus of these levels is on learning, growth, improvement and skill acquisition, all of which we know through practice and science from many Olympic sports. When these phases are well executed, the sport experience and performance are better. What does this mean to Olympic hopefuls now? It means that you should be working consistently with a sport psychology consultant in the Olympic preparation years 1-4 and require them to provide you with a planned and systematic psychological skills program at the team, unit and individual level. Why? Because we know it works. It works even better when the coaches and team leadership are committed to the process of learning, improvement and achievement. At the Olympic level we know that mental toughness is developed over years, not in months. Due to space constraints, the rest of this article is posted online at www.usacurl.org/curlingrocks. On the right index, there is a spot now reserved for Dr. Coumbe-Lilley’s articles. Please continue reading this article in its entirety online. You can contact Dr. John Coumbe-Lilley, USA Curling sport psychology consultant, at jcl@usacurling.org.

with Marc DePerno on the phone that day, learning about the opportunity to engage in sports such as wheelchair basketball, racing and curling. I couldn’t believe that this stranger wanted to help me. He encouraged me to come to his office immediately. Little did I know, my life was about to change. Initially, Marc taught me how to play wheelchair basketball and secured a grant for me to receive my own sport wheelchair. He then assisted me with training for a local wheelchair road race and even managed to find a way to get me my own custom-fit racing wheelchair. He introduced me to kayaking and canoeing as well. But my most life changing experience came when he introduced me to wheelchair curling. From the moment I threw my first stone in December of 2004, I fell in love with the sport. Since that time, I have won six U.S. National Championships, represented

the United States at four World Championships and two Paralympic Winter Games, and won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. Throughout the entire process, Marc has been by my side serving as my mentor, my guide and my friend. The countless hours he has spent away from his family to develop the STARS program and assist me, and dozens of others with disabilities, speaks volumes to his character. These past seven years have been the most productive of my life, not just based on my athletic accomplishments, but rather the things I’ve done off the field of play. Marc taught me that I could use my disability as a platform to educate others. He and I have traveled to numerous schools and community events promoting disability awareness. We routinely interview on our local radio and television networks. We speak with individuals who

are recovering from traumatic injuries at rehabilitation centers and hospitals so they can realize the opportunities that lie before them. Additionally, I was nominated by Senator Joseph Griffo for the New York State Senate Achiever’s Award as well as inducted into the central New York Optimus Hall of Fame for my commitment to serving as a role model in my community. These things were unfathomable to me earlier in my life when meaning and purpose was lost. My life has changed 180 degrees, thanks to Marc’s intervention. Based on my newfound direction in life, my wife and I decided to have a child and welcomed our angel, Janaya Rose into this world three years ago. She comes to my basketball and curling games and has become our team cheerleader. I know my life would not be as fulfilling if I was not involved with Marc.

Marc’s message is one of ability, not disability. Experiencing physical trauma isn’t the end of being “you,” rather a new chapter in your life. With his guidance and inspiration, my life story has become a best seller.

By John Coumbe-Lilley, USA Curling sports psychology consultant

Nominations being accepted for Coach of the Year Nominations are being accepted through June 11 for 2010 USA Curling Coach of the Year and Developmental Coach of the Year. Nominations should be sent to the USCA office c/o Bev Schroeder by email to beverly.schroeder@usacurl. org, by mail to 5525 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482 or by fax to 715344-2279. Past recipients of the awards are posted on the USA Curling website at www.usacurl.org/usacurl.

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

USA places 10th at World Mixed Doubles by Joanna Kelly, World Curling Federation

USA gold medalists (l-r) Paul Pustovar, Brian Simonson, Tom Harms, Don Mohawk and Dale Gibbs wave to the crowd after receiving their medals at the 2010 World Senior Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Americans first, fourth at 2010 World Seniors Continued From Page 1 force an extra end, where they’d steal the winning point to get to the top of the podium. “In the extra end we were able to get the draw around the guards to the four-foot. And that rock stayed there the whole end and we just kept guarding it. And they had two mistakes…they had two of their own red rocks up front in that extra end, so that hurt them as they were guards for us actually,” Pustovar said. Sharon Vukich (Seattle) and teammates Mary Colacchio (Falmouth, Mass.), Susan Curtis (Rogers, Ark.,) and Betty Kozai (Seattle) came up

short in their quest for the bronze medal as Sweden’s Ingrid Meldahl rink defeated the Americans, 6-5. “We’re disappointed, but we had a very good game,” Kozai said. “I suppose they are a very experienced team and that may have given them an edge. But it was down to the last rock and that’s the excitement of curling!” Canada’s Colleen Pinkney rink defeated Switzerland’s Renate Nedkoff to win the women’s gold-medal match, 8-4. Australia’s Hugh Millikin won the country’s first-ever world championship medal in curling with a 4-3 win over Switzerland for the bronze medal. Seattle’s Sharon Vukich (left) represented the USA in both the World Seniors and the World Mixed Doubles in Russia. Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation

Key: O–Open; X–Mixed; XD–Mixed doubles; M–Men’s; W–Women’s; S–Senior; WC–Wheelchair C–Cashspiel; J–Junior; ST–Stick Date Type MAY 28–30 Hollywood, CA–Summer Blockbuster O San Francisco, CA–Golden Gate O JUNE 4–6 Great Smoky Mountains, TN

JULY 16–18 Cape Cod, MA Green Bay, WI–Tailgate

M O

AUG. 6–8 Green Bay, WI–Summerspiel Triangle, NC–Carolina Classic

S O

OCT. 1–3 North Shore, IL

X St

JULY 3–5 Pittsburgh, PA–TropiCurl

NOV. 12–14 North Shore, IL Wauwatosa, WI–Stick ‘Spiel

JULY 8–11 Cape Cod, MA Grand Forks, ND

X M

2011 JAN. 14–16 Portage, WI–Junior

Australia *Canada

Semifinals: 010 001 00 101 000 01

Switzerland 003 002 0x *USA 010 220 3x Bronze-medal game: *Switzerland 010 001 100 Australia 101 000 011 Gold-medal game: *Canada 002 001 000 USA 000 100 111 *last rock in first end

2 3 5 8 3 4 3 4

USA round robin games: USA 13, Russia 0 USA 9, Hungary 3 USA 8, England 2 USA 8, Australia 5 USA 7, Japan 3

2010 World Seniors Round Robin – Women Canada 7-0 Switzerland 5-2 USA 4-3 Sweden 4-3 Japan 3-4 New Zealand 2-5 Italy 2-5 Russia 1-6

*Canada Sweden

JULY 11–14 Cape Cod, MA

JUNE 11–13 Granite, WA–Summerspiel

2010 World Seniors Round Robin – Men Group A: Canada 5-0 Switzerland 4-1 Sweden 3-2 Finland 1-4 New Zealand 1-4 Italy 1-4 Group B: USA 5-0 Australia 3-2 Hungary 3-2 Japan 3-2 Russia 1-4 England 0-5

Semifinals: 311 021 xx 000 200 xx

*Switzerland 202 010 01 USA 010 101 10 Bronze-medal game: Sweden 021 020 01 *USA 100 102 10 Gold-medal game: Switzerland 001 011 010 *Canada 010 200 104 *last rock in first end USA round robin games: Switzerland 7, USA 5 USA 9, Russia 4 Italy 7, USA 6 USA 9, New Zealand 4 USA 6, Japan 4 (extra end) Canada 11, USA 1 USA 9, Sweden 4

Curling history was made when the Russian mixed doubles curling team secured the first world championship title ever for the Russian Federation. In front of a crowd of over 1,500 gathered in the Ural Lightning Ice Palace, Yana Nekrasova and teammate Petr Dron beat the New Zealand pair, Sean and Bridget Becker, 9-7 in the final. Afterwards Nekrasova said she was overwhelmed by the win and the amount of interest their performance at the world championship had raised in Russia. She said the New Zealanders played extremely well and that they were a tough team to beat and that it was not an easy win. It is the first World Curling Championship medal for New Zealand. The bronze medal game was just as full of suspense. With China’s Yue Sun and Zhipeng Zhang, taking on the Spanish duo, 15 year old Sergio Vez and teammate Irantzu García. The game also went all the way into an extra end of play, with the Chinese stealing the final point to win 8-7. Eighteen teams managed to make it to Chelyabinsk to compete. Teams from Canada, Korea, Norway, Scotland and Sweden eventually had to forfeit their participation in the event due to the travel disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption. The U.S. duo of Sharon Vukich and Mike Calcagno from Seattle finished the

2010 World Mixed Doubles Round Robin Group A: Switzerland 4-0 New Zealand 3-1 Czech Republic 1-3 Denmark 1-3 Austria 1-3 Group B: Spain 4-1 Estonia 3-2 Italy 3-2 Hungary 3-2 England 1-4 Finland 1-4 Group C: Russia 6-0 China 4-2 Australia 4-2 USA 3-3 Japan 2-4 Latvia 1-5 Slovakia 1-5

*Spain Estonia

Quarterfinals: 030 020 201 101 102 020

8 7

*New Zealand 304 002 1x Italy 010 210 0x

10 4

Australia *Russia

4 8

101 001 1x 030 140 0x

*Switzerland 011 020 300 China 200 103 014 Semifinals: Spain 000 210 0x *New Zealand 211 005 1x

3 10

*Russia China

16 4

406 101 4x 010 030 0x Bronze-medal game: China 020 103 011 *Spain 101 010 400 Gold-medal game: Russia 310 002 012 *New Zealand 001 310 200 *last rock in first end

7 11

8 7 9 7

USA round robin games: Russia 7, USA 3 USA 9, Latvia 8 USA 12, Slovakia 2 Australia 6, USA 3 China 13, USA 5 USA 7, Japan 4

competition with a 3-3 record, which put them in 10th place overall. The 2011 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship will take place April 16-23 in St Paul, Minn.

8 2 6 4 6 5 4 8

http://www.travelguard.com/unlucky?LEC-usacurl1

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Americans just miss bronze at 2010 Paralympic Winter Games by Terry Kolesar, Editor

2010 Paralympic Winter Games Round Robin Canada 7-2 USA 7-2 Korea 6-3 Sweden 5-4 Italy 5-4 Great Britain 3-6 Switzerland 3-6 Germany 3-6 Norway 3-6 Japan 3-6

ugusto Perez and Tiebreaker: Team USA could*Italy 301 001 00 5 n’t put a bronze Sweden 010 110 12 6 glow on a great Semifinals: week at the 2010 Sweden 010 031 0x 5 Paralympic Winter Games *Canada 302 300 2x 10 as Sweden kept the Americans off the medal *USA 202 000 10 5 Korea 010 311 01 7 stand with a 7-5 defeat in Bronze-medal game: the bronze-medal game *USA 010 300 10 5 March 21. Canada repeated Sweden 301 011 01 7 as champion. Gold-medal game: *Canada 310 400 00 8 For the second straight Korea 001 022 11 7 year at this venue, Perez *last rock in first end (East Syracuse, N.Y.) and teammates Patrick USA round robin games: USA 9, Korea 6 McDonald (Orangevale, Canada 10, USA 5 Calif.), James Pierce (North USA 6, Germany 5 Syracuse, N.Y.), Jacqui USA 8, Italy 2 Kapinowski (Point USA 8, Great Britain 7 (extra end) Sweden 6, USA 4 Pleasant, N.J.) and James USA 9, Norway 8 Jacqui Kapinowski prepares to throw her lead stone while James Joseph assists and Joseph (New Hartford, USA 8, Japan 3 James Pierce times her stone during action at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. N.Y.) finish fourth and USA 8, Switzerland 2 without a medal to go with the bronze they earned in 2008 at the worlds. A fluke playoffs due to a failed duce much or to draw shot by Germany in 2009 at drug test for the use of a around the guards and hope the worlds stole the bronze beta blocker called metothe stone would curl from them. prolol. enough to make the differ“That’s the way the Much like many of the ence. The end result was cookie crumbles. You gotta other U.S. games during the the raise attempt that didn’t look at where week, the change the outcome, unforwe’ve come bronze-medal tunately. Jungnell opted not since Torino. match had a to throw his last stone, con“That’s the This year we dramatic finfident that the measurement way the cookie made it back ish but this would be in his favor. to the medal crumbles. You time it wasn’t “We did consider the rounds gotta look at for a win for draw, but we didn’t think again,” said we could bend it enough to where we’ve come the Perez, a twoAmericans. count. We thought the rock since Torino. This time world Needing to would hang out too far. We year we made it champion in steal a single had the right idea with our 2010 U.S. Paralympic wheelchair curling team members pose outrigger back to the medal to force an last shot but it was a tough with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama canoe. during a recent visit to the White House to honor the 2010 rounds again,” extra end, raise,” Perez said. “That The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams. Athletes included (l-r) Patrick USA’s was a crappy shot.” Augusto Perez, McDonald, Augusto “Goose” Perez, Jacqui Kapinowski, James improved Kapinowski The U.S. started all 11 Skip, Team USA “Jimmy Jam” Joseph and James Pierce. from 2-5 in got her secgames of the tournament All photos courtesy of the U.S. Olympic Committee Torino to 7-4 ond stone with the last rock in the at the 2010 buried in the first end. During the Paralympic four-foot and bronze-medal game it didtwo stones in Swedish Winter Games. the U.S. protected it until n’t help them, as the the house for “It was a good run,” “It was a good run. rocks but was Jungnell made a tap-back of Americans got off to a the U.S. in heavy and McDonald said. “For me, one of his stones in the top shaky start, spotting For me, being a the second floated his being a first-time of the rings to push it about Sweden three points when first-time end and stone to the Paralympian, this experia quarter of an inch closer the U.S. accidentally kept Paralymian, this things were back of the ence was amazing.” to the button than the U.S. bumping Swedish stones experience was evolving beteight-foot to The win for Jalle stone. toward the button. With ter but the give a point Jugnell’s Swedish team amazing,” The U.S. debated for Sweden already having one U.S. was still concluded a trying few days about four minutes as to stone tucked behind the Patrick McDonald, to Sweden. limited to just The seventh as their vice skip was diswhether to try a tough raise center guard, McDonald Vice skip, a single. end unravqualified on the eve of the that really wouldn’t probumped in a second Team USA Pierce coneled much Swedish rock and the U.S. verted a doulike the sixth, was scrambling for an ble takeout to with Sweden answer in the first end. limit the Swedes in the piling in the stones and the Perez was unable to tap his third end to a single as U.S. chasing and missing stone forward for any well. With the last-rock out on opportunities. points and actually promotadvantage back in hand, the Canada’s Jim Armstrong ed one more Swedish rock U.S. tied the game in the rink held off a late rally up for the three-point steal. fourth with a critical three from Korea’s Haksung Kim “Instead of trying to tap, points as the Americans to earn the gold in front of a hit and roll was the better protected two stones around just under 5,000 cheering call,” Perez said after the the four-foot and Perez fans. The gold-medal game game. tapped forward the third to concluded about 10 seconds Despite the slow start, get back in the game. after the measurement in the U.S. tried to get the They’d force Sweden to the bronze-medal game was offense rolling throughout a single again in the fifth determined. Korea tried in the rest of the match but and got to work in the sixth earnest to extend the gameSweden met them shot for end but things didn’t go as with back-to-back steals but Coach Steve Brown chats with Team USA members Jacqui shot. planned as Perez ended up Armstrong sealed the win Kapinsowski (from left), James Pierce, Patrick McDonald and Kapinowski, who has drawing against three with a takeout. Augusto Perez during a timeout. finished 52 marathons, got

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

USA juniors bring home the bronze by Terry Kolesar, Editor

n their last game together, USA’s Alexandra Carlson and Tabitha Peterson capped their junior careers with a bronze medal March 14 at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Flims, Switzerland. The Americans won the first medal for the U.S. junior women’s curling program since 2003 as they defeated Switzerland’s Manuela Siegrist rink, 9-7, in an extra end. “That’s incredible, pretty good, especially as it was our last game together as a Members of Team USA embrace after winning the bronze medal at the 2010 World Juniors in team, because me and my Flims, Switzerland. Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation third age out,” Carlson said after the game. “We just four; that wasn’t very fun,” had our weight and got Carlson said. “That extra everything right.” end was played well.” Carlson (Wayzata, The U.S. team found Minn.) and Peterson themselves down 2-0 early (Eagan, Minn.) competed in on but rallied to score in their final competition at three straight the junior ends to build level as a 6-2 lead “We just had our they’ve surafter six weight and got passed the ends. A shaky age limit (21) everything right,” seventh end for world and Alexandra handed the national junSwiss ladies Carlson, ior competifour points Skip, Team USA tion. but the Teammates Americans Tara Peterson limited them (Eagan, Minn.), Sophie to a single in the 10th end Brorson (Duluth, Minn.) to force the extra end, Tara Peterson (above, from left) and Sophie Brorson bring a and Miranda Solem where the U.S. sealed the stone across the hogline during playoff action. USA men in (Cohasset, Minn.) will have win with a deuce. action (bottom). to form a new team for next “We had a lot of bad season to try to make stones,” Swiss skip Siegrist another run at the world said. “It was not possible to junior gold medal. win the gold medal as they (Kenmore, Wash.) and draw for two in the tenth “The game went pretty defeated Canada’s Rachel Aaron Tasa (Bemidji, end.” quick, except for that one Homan, 9-3. In the men’s Minn.) lost their first seven Sweden’s Anna end where we missed our competition, Switzerland’s matches before earning a 7Hasselborg rink went on to two hits and gave them Benoit Schwarz captured 3 win over Russia. the gold-medal with a 7-6 Tasa was the recipient of win over Scotland’s Ally the men’s sportsmanship Fraser. Canada’s Jake award along with France’s Walker team won the Marie Coulet. Coulot and bronze after getting past Tasa were selected for the China’s Yangong Ji, 9-1. award by fellow players at Sean Beighton the championships. All par(Edmonds, Wash.) and the ticipants at the World American men didn’t have Juniors are invited to nomiquite the week they’d antic- nate a fellow competitor ipated, finishing with a 1-8 who, in their view, has best record. Beighton and teamexemplified the traditional mates Derrick Mclean values of skill, honesty, fair (Bothell, Wash.), Sam play, sportsmanship and Galey (Seattle), Joe Purvis friendship during the event.

2010 World Juniors Round Robin – Women Canada 8-1 Sweden 7-2 USA 6-3 Switzerland 6-3 Russia 5-4 France 3-6 China 3-6 Czech Republic 3-6 Germany 2-7 Scotland 2-7 Page 1-2: 034 010 10x x 000 101 01x x

9 3

Page 3-4: Switzerland 010 101 010 x *USA 002 010 102 x

4 6

Semifinal: 000 001 000 x 011 110 110 x

1 6

*Canada Sweden

USA *Sweden

Bronze-medal game: Switzerland 020 000 040 10 *USA 000 321 010 02 Gold-medal game: *Sweden 100 101 221 x Canada 020 010 000 x *last rock in first end

7 9 8 3

USA round robin games: Sweden 10, USA 4 Canada 8, USA 5 USA 7, China 5 USA 8, France 5 USA 7, Scotland 6 USA 11, Germany 3 Czech Republic 7, USA 4 USA 8, Switzerland 7 (extra end) USA 6, Russia 5

2010 World Juniors Round Robin – Men Scotland 8-1 Switzerland 7-2 China 7-2 Canada 6-3 Norway 6-3 Sweden 4-5 Finland 3-6 Denmark 2-7 USA 1-8 Russia 1-8

*Canada Norway

Tiebreaker: 200 101 031 x 010 010 200 x

8 4

*Scotland China

Page 1-2: 200 200 100 1 002 000 001 0

6 3

Page 3-4: Canada 001 100 020 0 *Switzerland 100 020 000 2

4 5

Semifinal: *China 000 100 011 0 Switzerland 000 011 000 2

3 4

Bronze-medal game: 112 100 20x x 000 001 00x x Gold-medal game: Scotland 200 020 110 0 *Switzerland 001 102 002 1 *last rock in first end Canada *China

7 1 6 7

USA round robin games: China 5, USA 3 Norway 7, USA 5 Canada 5, USA 3 Sweden 13, USA 2 Switzerland 7, USA 5 Denmark 10, USA 4 Scotland 8, USA 3 USA 7, Russia 3 Finland 8, USA 2

Summer weather means camp time The USCA will host three junior camps over the next few months. Registration paperwork is currently posted on the USA Curling website at www.usacurl.org for the Cape Cod and Green Bay camps. The third, an elite skills camp, will take place in St. Paul this fall but the information is still being finalized so please check the website for upcoming details on that camp.

Cape Cod The 13th annual Cape Cod Junior Camp will take place July 18-21 in Falmouth, Mass. Applications are due June 7. The camp coordinator is Mark Mooney, 585-797-5344, marsmoo@yahoo.com. Green Bay The 22nd Annual Summer Junior Curling Camp will take place this year in Green Bay, Wis., on July 23-

25. Registration is based on a firstcome, first-served basis. After the first 48 slots are filled, the remaining applicants will be placed on a waiting list. The camp coordinator is Patrice Gabower, sweepup@charter.net, 608757-0544 or 608-201-5921. The USCA is seeking certified instructors for these camps. If you are interested, please contact each camp coordinator listed above.

USA’s Aaron Tasa received the World Junior Men’s Sportsmanship Award (above).

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

2010 USA Curling National Championships • March 6-13 • WINGS Stadium • Kalamazoo, Mich.

Fenson rink captures men’s national title by Rick Patzke, Associate Editor

2010 U.S. Nationals Round Robin – Men Pete Fenson Mike Farbelow Matt Hames Matt Stevens Craig Brown Wes Johnson Todd Birr Kevin Kakela Blake Morton Bryan Wight

6-3

6-3 Put the sauce on, mama. 6-3 “Pete the pizza man” is 6-3 returning to Italy. 5-4 5-4 Pete Fenson, owner and 4-5 operator of a pizza restau3-6 rant in Bemidji, Minn., 3-6 helped deliver USA’s first 1-8 Olympic medal in curling Tiebreaker games for seeding when he led his team to the (winners to Page 1-2 game): bronze in the 2006 Games *Fenson 202 010 210 2 10 in Torino, Italy. He and Stevens 020 102 002 0 7 teammates (Bemidji, Hames 012 010 001 0 5 Minn.), Shawn Rojeski *Farbelow 100 200 020 1 6 (Chisholm, Minn.), Joe Page 1-2: Polo (Duluth, Minn.) and Fenson 220 102 102 x 10 Tyler George (Duluth, *Farbelow 001 010 020 x 4 Minn.) defeated the Mike Page 3-4: Farbelow rink, 8-4, at Hames 020 020 10x x 5 *Stevens 502 101 01x x 10 Wings Stadium to win the 2010 USA Curling National Semifinal: Championship. They went *Farbelow 102 021 04x x 10 Stevens 010 200 20x x 5 on to represent USA at the 2010 Capital One World Final: *Fenson 110 204 000 x 8 Curling Championships Farbelow 001 010 020 x 4 April 3-11 in Cortina, Italy, *last rock in first end finishing fourth. “It feels good to be going back to Italy,” said Fenson, out trying to blank the sec42, after the win. “That’s ond end, giving Fenson’s why we came here, and team a 2-0 lead, the makewe’ll go back and see what up of the game changed we can do. We’ll try to immediately. bring back “That’s some hardabsolutely ware.” “They played so what we didFenson’s well. They n’t want to team never deserved to win,” happen,” said trailed Mike Farbelow, Farbelow. “It Farbelow took us totalafter 8-4 loss to (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Pete Fenson in the ly off our game plan, teammates gold-medal game. which was to Eric Fenson keep it sim(Bemidji, ple. That just Minn.), Jeff changed the whole scePuleo (Forest Lake, Minn.) nario.” and Mark Willmert “That was big,” agreed (Minneapolis) in the gold Fenson. “He flashed that hit medal game. Farbelow— and I can feel my guys just gracious as always, win or falling into a groove.” lose—praised his oppo“Mike was talking to me nents. “They played so partway through the game well. They deserved to about teams giving us an win,” he said. early lead the last few days The only real miscue by and how they didn’t want to Fenson’s team was the faildo that,” added Fenson, ure to blank the first end as whose team immediately attempted. But when Farbelow flashed on a take- cranked the pressure up on

Gabrielle Coleman (Mountain View, Calif.) accepts the Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award from USCA Director Andy Anderson during the closing ceremony of the 2010 U.S. National Championships in Kalamazoo. Kevin Kakela (Rolla, N.D.) was the male recipient but not in attendance for the presentation. Photo by Pat Brownewell of Pat Brownewell Photography

2010 U.S. National champions (l-r) Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo and Tyler George. Photo by Pat Brownewell of Brownewell Photography

the ice. “Our guys just didn’t miss.” Farbelow concurred: “They just didn’t give us any opportunities to get back in. But I’m proud of the way my guys played. They did so well.” Farbelow hit for one in the third end, but Fenson’s team used the hammer in the fourth for a double takeout and 4-1 lead. Team Farbelow was setting up for a deuce in the fifth until failing to get a second counter in the rings, allowing Fenson to get out of the end. Farbelow wound up drawing for one against four counters this time. The game totally got away from Farbelow’s team in the sixth, when Fenson’s team got two rocks behind center guards early in the end. The Fenson foursome was already counting three when Farbelow stepped up with his first rock. He tried a double takeout, but removed only one. After Fenson replaced that stone, Farbelow tried a freeze to minimize the damage. But his shot caught on a guard and Fenson had an open draw for four. “He tried to get into the pocket there, but I still probably would have had a shot,” Fenson said. “I don’t know if he could even have gotten better than second count. His shot looked like it was coming in nice and then it just sort of turned over on him.” “We knew that was kind of the ballgame,” said Fenson, who was playing in his 17th national championship. He has five previous national titles, the most recent in 2006 and the first in 1993. He and his brother, Eric, won the title together in 2003. Farbelow’s team played

Rojeski and Polo display their powerful sweeping skills (top). Team Farbelow vice skip Eric Fenson (middle) delivers a stone during the men’s gold-medal match up at the 2010 Nationals at Wings Stadium. The gold medalists embrace (bottom). Photos by Pat Brownewell, Brownewell Photography

gamely on, trying to get at least a deuce to get back into the game. He got that in the eighth, when Fenson rolled out on a takeout and left an open draw for two. But the Fenson team wasn’t going to be denied, with double peels by Polo and Rojeski providing the exclamation points to the approval of the approximately 1,000 fans in the stands. Team Farbelow shook after nine ends. “We’re happy with the way we played, although a little disappointed with the last day here, of course,” said Farbelow in summing

up his fourth nationals, and first finals appearance. “They did such a nice job here. It was a great experience.”

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

2010 USA Curling National Championships • March 6-13 • WINGS Stadium • Kalamazoo, Mich.

Brown leads team to women’s championship Lank also competed in six Canadian provincial championships. Lank (Lewiston, N.Y.) In a tense battle between and teammates Aileen two former longtime teamSormunen (Duluth, Minn.), mates, the “new” skip overCaitlin Maroldo (Rochester, came the veteran, as Erika N.Y.) and Jessica Schultz Brown’s team won the (Richfield, Minn.) got on 2010 USA Curling National the board first, stealing one Championship with a 5-4, in the opening end when extra-end win over the Patti Lank rink at Wings Stadium Brown tried to hit and roll for one and instead rolled March 13. out of count. Brown’s team won the After blanking the secgame with a dead-on hit for ond end, Brown was forced one in the 11th end, securinto taking one in the third. ing Brown’s first-ever She returned the favor in World Women’s the fourth, with Lank havChampionship appearance ing to draw the four-foot as a skip. Brown, born in against two opposing counMadison, Wis., and now ters. Lank was perfect on living in Oakville, Ontario, this draw, in contrast to one last played in a world earlier that went to the championship in 2004, as hack. third for Lank. They finThe game turned in ished fourth that year. Team Brown’s favor in the Brown last skipped at the fifth. Lank just missed a world level in the 1994 jundouble takeout with her last ior championships (age 21 shot, but still had first and under), winning silver. count. That is until Brown “It’s a great feeling,” delivered a precise tap back said Brown, with teamto score two for a 3-2 lead. mates Nina Spatola “It felt like it took until (McFarland, Wis.), Ann the fifth end before we Swisshelm (Chicago) and finally took advantage of Laura Hallisey (Medfield, some opportunities,” said Mass.) nearby. The 37-yearBrown. “We were waiting old physician’s assistant and waiting. The fifth end said she was anticipating a was huge. We gold-medal were happy showdown to be back on against her “It’s a great top, and to former skip feeling,” have done all week. Erika Brown, something “We with the hamafter winning her played mer.” together for sixth national After nine years,” championship. blanking the said Brown, sixth, Lank’s who won team tried three national valiantly to titles with Lank and now set up a deuce in the sevthree more without. This enth end, but couldn’t get was Brown’s 17th national buried behind corner championship appearance, guards. Both teams were and 12th gold medal game. still not sharp on the draw, “My expectation going into with Sormunen putting her the week was that we second shot in the hack. would meet Patti in the final and it would be a tight Lank was eventually forced to hit for one and a 3-3 game, going 10 or 11 ends. score. But to me it wasn’t really “Both teams tried to about who we were playthrow the corner guards up, ing. This would feel fantasbut we just couldn’t get tic against anybody.” them in place,” remarked Said Lank: “It was fun Brown. “We ended up with because it was a good a lot of play in the rings, game. That’s probably the which I don’t think was best game I’ve seen them necessarily the game plan play. I’m a little tired of silfor either team.” ver, though.” Brown was facing three Lank’s team was the runopposing counters in the ner-up in the 2009 eighth when she settled in Nationals, which also with the last rock of the served as the 2010 U.S. end. She opted to hit shot Olympic Team Trials for rock for one rather than curling. She was also rundraw, and made it cleanly. ner-up in 2008, and five Lank’s team was effitimes previously. Lank has cient at blanking the ninth competed in 16 national end to retain the last-rock championships since 1994, advantage heading home in and made the final 11 the 10th. But things didn’t times. She has won the title go quite so smoothly in that four times. Born in Midale, last end of regulation, with Saskatchewan, Canada, by Rick Patzke, Associate Editor

2010 U.S. National champions (l-r) Erika Brown, Nina Spatola, Ann Swisshelm and Laura Hallisey. The team exchanges high-fives moments after clinching the title (below). Photos by Pat Brownewell of Brownewell Photography

Schultz’s two corner guard attempts both winding up in the house, where Brown’s team quickly pounced on them. By the time Maroldo delivered the fourth rock for her team, there were already four of the opposition’s sitting in the house. “We got a big break when they didn’t get their corner guard up,” Brown said. Her team also got a break when Spatola’s first shot appeared to be off the mark but turned into an angle raise takeout. “They got a little lucky there,” said Lank. “But we still had a chance for our deuce.” After Spatola’s next takeout attempt jammed, Team Lank consulted with Coach Neil Harrison and called for Sormunen to draw around an opposing stone in the top of the four-foot for second count. But Sormunen’s stone crashed into it instead, and the advantage swung back to the other side. Brown hit and stuck with her last shot to leave her team counting two. “If she doesn’t hit that perfectly or rolls the wrong way, I’ve got the shot for the win,” said Lank, who had the third count stone and would have had an open hit on Team Brown’s other stone in the back of the rings. Even with that, Lank’s team spent some time considering a cross-house double takeout. “It was there, but it was a hard double,” said Lank. “My girls wanted me to go for it, because I’d been making them all week. I had made three triples. I just didn’t think it was

smart, though. I decided we should just get our one and take our chances in the extra end. We’re usually pretty good at stealing.” In the extra end, Schultz’s lead rock was where it needed to be, sitting as a high center guard. But not much else went right for Lank’s team in that end. The house was empty by the time Lank’s last rock was due, with one corner guard. Lank drew to the back of the four-foot, partially behind cover, but Brown still had a bead on it. She barely even considered playing the draw instead of the hit. “I could see just about all of it,” said Brown. “I’d thrown that shot a lot. I felt really good about it.” After making the shot, shaking hands with the Lank team, and embracing her teammates in victory, Brown said: “This is such a fun team. It’s great having the experience that Ann brings, and then to have two young, fresh faces who have never been to the worlds before is awesome. I’m so excited for them. I’m pretty excited for me,

2010 U.S. Nationals Round Robin – Women Erika Brown Patti Lank Amy Wright Becca Hamilton Monica Walker Kimberly Wapola Gabrielle Coleman Debra Horn Lysa Hambley Matina Heisler

7-2 7-2 7-2 6-3 5-4 5-4 3-6 3-6 1-8 1-8

Tiebreaker games for seeding (winners to Page 1-2 game): Lank 020 100 200 1 6 *Wright 101 001 031 0 7 *Lank Brown

201 101 001 x 020 020 500 x

6 9

*Wright Brown

Page 1-2: 101 001 002 x 020 210 210 x

5 8

Page 3-4: *Lank 202 001 012 x Hamilton 010 002 010 0x *Wright Lank

Semifinal: 000 100 10x x 100 024 02x x

Final: *Brown 001 020 010 01 Lank 100 100 100 10 *last rock in first end

8 4 2 9 5 4

too. It’s been a long time.” The team went on to finish fifth at the Ford World Championships in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, which began just one week after the team won the national title.

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Scotland gets past USA for bronze at 2010 Men’s Worlds in Cortina by Terry Kolesar, Editor

sually the words Fenson, Italy and bronze go hand in hand. But that wasn’t the case four years after his historic moment at the Torino Olympic Games as Pete Fenson and Team USA returned home without a medal after losing to Scotland in the bronzemedal game April 11 at the 2010 Capital One Men’s World Championship. “Partway through the week I told you that I was happy to be on our win streak and still be playing here this weekend. We would have liked a different ending,” said the six-time U.S. champion and Olympic bronze medalist Fenson. In the third showdown of the week between Fenson (Bemidji, Minn.) and teammates Shawn Rojeski (Chisholm, Minn.), Joe Polo (Duluth, Minn.) and Tyler George (Duluth, Minn.) and Scotland’s Warwick Smith rink, the Scots once again stole the final end to defeat the U.S. – eerily by the same score as their Page 3-4 playoff meeting, 6-4. “The ice straightened up a bit, and we didn’t handle it as well as they did,” Fenson said. “Warwick played great again, and you gotta play that way against these guys. You gotta play great in this type of game to win it.” The U.S. outplayed the Scots, shooting 84 percent to 77, but as it often does in curling, the last shot is the one that seals your fate. Tied 4-4, the U.S. had shot rock in the four-foot until Rojeski missed a peel and Scotland came down to

2010 Capital One World Men’s Championship Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Round Robin Norway 10-1 Canada 9-2 USA 8-3 Scotland 8-3 Denmark 7-4 Switzerland 5-6 Germany 5-6 Sweden 4-7 France 3-8 Italy 3-8 China 3-8 Japan 1-10 Page 1-2: 032 050 10x x 100 102 01x x Page 3-4: Scotland 000 110 010 12 *USA 010 001 002 00 Semifinal: Scotland 020 101 102 0 *Norway 202 030 010 1 Bronze-medal game: USA 000 200 110 0 *Scotland 001 002 001 2 Gold-medal game: *Canada 302 011 02x x Norway 010 100 10x x *last rock in first end USA round robin games: Canada 6, USA 3 USA 7, Switzerland 5 Denmark 8, USA 7 USA 6, Japan 1 Norway 6, USA 4 USA 7, France 5 (extra end) USA 6, China 5 USA 8, Italy 5 USA 7, Scotland 5 USA 8, Germany 4 USA 10, Sweden 2 Canada *Norway

USA’s Joe Polo (left) and Shawn Rojeski sweep a stone into the four-foot while Tyler George watches the line during action in Cortina at the 2010 Men’s Worlds. Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation

remove it. As the end progressed, Smith used his final stone to cover the button and the Americans couldn’t get the right angle on it to move it far enough away from the Capital One sponsor logo plastered over the button for the win. “They thought it was heavy right out my hand and jumped on it and that threw it off. Another inch and we make it...maybe it was heavy,” Fenson said. “That was really tough,” Warwick Smith said. “They’re a good team and they hang on, you never really get away from them. They’re one of these teams that manages to hook you, even if you’re two ahead, they always manage to come back at you. I’ve been in his shoes (Fenson) in ’98 and you just don’t want to be there.” The whooshing sound of the extreme up-weight employed on the Scottish takeouts were all that could be heard at times in the quiet and rather empty

USA Vice Skip Tyler George yells to the sweepers under the watchful eyes of Scotland’s Warwick Smith and David Smith (far rear). Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation

Olympic Ice Stadium where a modest crowd of around 200 fans took in the bronzemedal game at the Olympic Ice Stadium. After the first two ends were blanked, some offense was surely going to occur in the third end as the U.S. took advantage of a miss by David Smith to stick a second stone in the house. Warwick Smith drew down to the back corner of the four-foot behind the corner guard but Fenson followed him in to freeze his stone to it. Smith followed his path to the button to earn a single. With the last rock advantage in the fourth end, the U.S. tried to play the center guard to their advantage but the Scots met them shot for shot. It wasn’t until Warwick Smith wrecked on the guard that the U.S. was able to get a second stone in the house. The way the stones were placed gave Smith the double takeout opportunity, but he missed and Fenson drew for two points. Scotland blanked the fifth end and got into trouble in the sixth when the U.S. was able to keep rocks scattered around the house. Smith drew around the center guard to sit on the button with his first toss. Scotland lucked out when Fenson’s stone was a bit outside and hung in for second count, allowing Smith to tap it back just enough for a deuce. Craig Wilson kept the momentum rolling for the Scots with two great shots to limit the efforts of the Americans in the seventh. David Smith jammed his takeout attempt, leaving the U.S. stone in the back fourfoot. Rojeski drew the top

side to balance out the fourfoot. David Smith narrowly tapped it out so Rojeski followed him to take out his stone but couldn’t get the roll behind the center guard. The skips exchanged hits but Fenson rolled out on his final takeout and settled for a single to tie the game, 3-3. Lots of rocks were in play in the eighth end as the Scots got one in the side of the four-foot early and protected by stones in the top of the house. Rojeski was able to sneak to the button and David Smith missed his shot to allow Fenson to use his first stone to tap back the Scottish rock that had been bugging them all end and sit two. Smith threw a bomb down the ice but missed everything in his target. After some lengthy deliberation, the Americans opted to remove the lone Scottish stone in the fourfoot to sit five. Smith's best option was a hit and roll to the button off of that rock but he couldn’t roll it over enough, giving the Americans a steal of one. The U.S. got stones in place in in the ninth end as well to pester the Scots. Back-to-back misses by the Scots allowed the U.S. to to continue to protect their stones. David Smith helped the Scots with his second shot by drawing to the button to freeze on the U.S. stone behind the center guards for shot rock. Fenson, however, answered by freezing to the top of the stone Smith placed there to mold the Scottish rock to the button. Smith's first stone was a total loss as it slid to the back of the eightfoot so Fenson simply guarded. Smith’s attempted circus shot to somehow

11 5 6 4 7 9 4 6 9 3

Colin Campbell Sportsmanship Award winner: Torger Nergard, Norway

earn two went nowhere as his stone barely made contact with the one he was going to angle off of and the game was tied heading into the final end. The 10th end was going close to according to plan with George getting the shot rock in place behind the center guard with his first toss. Things would slowly unravel, however, when Rojeski missed peeling the guard. This gave Scotland the opportunity to remove the U.S. stone in the house and gain control of the four-foot when David Smith made the takeout and rolled behind the other Scottish rock in the top eight-foot. Rojeski peeled and Warwick Smith replaced the guard. With Fenson’s first stone, he tried to draw the button but it sunk a bit too deep, allowing Smith to follow him down and cover the button. Fenson’s final stone was off target from the start and the U.S. didn’t have a chance at pushing those two stones out to get closer to the button. “It felt like we had things going our way, for sure. We made the draw-freeze in the ninth and things were going our way. We didn’t finish out as strong as we’d have liked,” Fenson said. Canada’s Kevin Koe rink would go on to win the gold medal with a 9-3 defeat of Norway’s Torger Nergard team.

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

USA finishes fifth in Saskatchewan by Terry Kolesar, Editor

ne bad end was all it took to wipe away Team USA's medal hopes as Sweden defeated Erika Brown's team, 11-8, in the tiebreaker game at the 2010 Ford World Women's Curling Championship. With the win, 22-year-old Cecilia Ostlund and her teammates from Sweden earned the No. 4 playoff seed. Germany’s Andrea Schopp team went on to win the world title over Scotland’s Eve Muirhead. Canada’s Jennifer Jones defeated the Swedes for the bronze. For the Americans, it was the end of the road in Saskatchewan as the chapter closed on a 7-5 week at the Credit Union I-plex. The fifth-place showing was the USA’s best finish since 2007. “We’re very pleased with our seven and four round robin record,” Brown said. “I’m really proud of my teammates. This was the first time for the younger girls and they played well all week. We’ve had a great three weeks together. I don't feel too badly about it.” Brown and teammates Nina Spatola (McFarland, Wis.), Ann Swisshelm (Chicago) and Laura Hallisey (Medfield, Mass.) went after the Swedes much like in the round robin game in which Sweden also prevailed. There were 15 rocks in play in the first end that saw both teams playing the draw around the center guard to the four-foot game, resulting in a deuce for Sweden. The U.S. didn’t shoot all that well in the first end but shook it off to earn a deuce in the next end. The Swedes forged ahead in the third end as Brown wrecked on a guard trying to remove the Swedish shot rock, giving Ostlund a chance to grab

Erika Brown shows her steady delivery and focused eyes.

USA’s (l-r) Nina Spatola, Ann Swisshelm and Laura Hallisey team up to sweep Erika Brown’s skip stone during action at the 2010 World Women’s Championship in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy of the World Curling Federation

three points. USA missed an opportunity to cash in on a miss in the fourth end by Swedish second Anna Domeij when she removed her own stone in the four-foot. But Swisshelm’s draw dropped too deep, setting up the double takeout for Sweden. After Brown made a takeout and couldn’t hold the shooter in the house, the Americans were forced to draw for a single. Things started to turn around for the Americans in the fifth. The Swedes looked poised for another deuce until Brown made a double takeout and Ostlund airballed her takeout attempt to give the U.S. two points and tabula rasa with the game tied at 5-5. Ostlund had a chance at a big end in the sixth as Brown tried to freeze to a Swedish rock in the eightfoot, leaving it open for the young skip to spit out and move the stone in the back of the house just far enough for four points. “That snuck up on us a bit,” Brown said about the big end. “I needed to bail us out and couldn’t get the freeze. She made a lot of doubles. It was a lot of chasing after that. We got lucky in the fifth and we thought we’d get a new life but that only lasted fifteen minutes.” After exchanging singles over the next two ends, the U.S. had a chance to get closer but Ostlund made a double takeout with her final rock of the ninth and the U.S. drew for two instead. The Americans kept battling, though, and had two stones spread across the rings to

force Ostlund to make a takeout with the last stone for the win. “You always want to come back, that’s for sure...but I need a little break right now,” Brown said. “Twenty-four games in three weeks is a lot on the legs.” It was just 13 days earlier that the Brown team won the U.S. Nationals to qualify for the worlds. Playing in their first

world championship, Spatola finished ranked 10th in the vice skip spot while Hallisey was fifth among leads in shooting percentage. This was Brown’s first worlds appearance in the skip position after winning silver twice in five other appearances at the worlds as third. Swisshelm won the 2003 world title and represented the U.S. at the 2002 Olympic Games.

2010 Ford World Women’s Championship Swift Current, Saskatchewan Round Robin Canada 10-1 Germany 8-3 Scotland 8-3 Sweden 7-4 USA 7-4 Denmark 6-5 China 6-5 Russia 5-6 Norway 3-8 Switzerland 3-8 Japan 2-9 Latvia 1-10 Tiebreaker: *Sweden 203 004 010 1 11 USA 020 120 102 0 8 Page 1-2: *Canada 001 100 010 x 3 Germany 000 001 104 x 6 Page 3-4: *Scotland 102 030 20x x 8 Sweden 010 001 01x x 3 Semifinal: Scotland 012 031 30x x 10 *Canada 200 100 01x x 4 Bronze-medal game: *Canada 011 104 002 x 9 Sweden 100 010 310 x 6 Gold-medal game: Scotland 020 102 000 10 6 *Germany 102 010 110 02 8 *last rock in first end USA round robin games: USA 8, Russia 6 USA 10, Japan 3 Latvia 7, USA 6 USA 12, Germany 8 USA 8, Norway 7 USA 6, Denmark 5 Canada 6, USA 4 USA 9, Switzerland 7 Scotland 7, USA 4 Sweden 9, USA 5 USA 9, China 5 Francis Brodie Sportsmanship Award winner: Linn Githmark, Norway

News Briefs Sites needed for upcoming events Is your club interested in hosting a USCA national championship event? If so, contact Kellie Krake, USCA site selection chairwoman, at 608-220-0581 or kelliekrake@hotmail.com. Sites for the 2011 U.S. Mixed Championship as well as the 2011 U.S. Club National Championships are still being sought as well as events beyond the upcoming season.

Hall of Fame nominations being accepted Nominations are being accepted through June 1 to be considered for induction into the USCA Hall of Fame. Categories include builder, curler and builder/curler. Send nominations to the USCA office by mail at 5525 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482, by fax to 715-3442279 or by email to info@usacurl.org.

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Five U.S. teams compete at Optimist by Deborah Moulton, Chair, USCA Youth Committee

ive teams from the United States participated in the 2010 U-18 Optimist International Championship held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 31-April 4. “The Optimist International is a truly world-class event and a great experience for anyone that might want to curl competitively in the future,” said Dan Lindgren, coach of the North Dakota girls team. “Team North Dakota can recommend this spiel highly to other young American teams.” “The event was fantastic,” said Joel Dietz, coach of the Wisconsin boys team. “We finished up in sixth place. The Optimist Club took really good care of us. They bused us from the hotel to the club and back every day. All we had to do was get to the bus on time and get a couple meals ourselves. I think our team learned quite a bit about the difference in preparing for bonspiels and international

Schenectady Men’s The 30th Achilles Men’s Invitational took place Nov. 19-21 at the Schenectady (N.Y.). Here are the results: 1EW—Schenectady 4: Dan Machold, Dion Warr, Dave Hooper, Mike Beaton 1ERU—Schenectady 1: Jack Stopera, Marek Rzonca, Jim Sinkins, Matt Daly 2EW—Ardsley: Dennis Mellerup, Dannie Steski, Bill Perkowitz, Bill Maligieri 2ERU—Potomac 1: Scott Edie, Gert Messing, Bill Peskoff, Dave Palazzoli 3EW—Ottawa: Morrissey, Jim Cole, Mike Kessler, Alex Ryan 3ERU—Schenectady 5: Brian Damon, Brad Austin, Brandon Alois, Jeff Howles 4EW—Potomac 2: Jason Sethi, Sean Murray, Brian Parsons, David Bykowski 4ERU—Schenectady 3: Charlie Brown, Mike Stefanik, Richard Gonyeau, Scott Brennan

Coyotes Open The seventh Annual Desert Ice Bonspiel took place April 23-25 in Scottsdale, Artizona. Here are the results: 1EW–Alberta: Tim Yeo, Matt Yeo, Bronco Briggs, Travis Fraser, Dave Fraser 1ERU–Coyotes: Shawn Tait, Mike Kraft, Laura Tait, Kaatje Kraft

competitions. The U18 tournament is a wonderful opportunity for junior players to play against a variety of talented teams their own age.” “We were excited about going to Regina but the actual experience far exceeded our expectations,” said Wayne Anderson, coach of the Pennsylvania girls team. “This was truly a world-class event both in terms of the participating teams and how the Optimist organizing committee ran the event. We felt special from the time the welcoming volunteers met us at the airport on Tuesday until they returned us there very early Monday morning. In between, we enjoyed meeting teams from across Canada, the U.S. and Japan. It was especially enjoyable to get to know the girls from Japan who spoke very limited English and showed up at the closing banquet in traditional Japanese kimonos. “The Japanese skip’s sister just finished representing their country in the winter Olympics. The opportunity to curl in a 12-sheet

club was also a little different for us since we always have to curl on an outside sheet at our club (yes, we only have two sheets). We found out just how good U18 teams from Canada can be and finished with a 2-5 record, but we are eager to find out how we do four years from now.” Yes, this is an event that happens at the very end of the curling season when you are already thinking about outside sports, but trust us – you don’t want to miss the chance to experience this international event! Look for applications and information for the 2011 event in November on the USCA website. Don’t miss the fun! Final results: Men: Massachusetts (3-3): Korey Dropkin, Ryan McMakin, Thomas Howell, David Wadsworth, Coach Keith Dropkin Washington (3-3): Jake Vukich, Evan McAuley, Blake Sweet, Nick Connolly, Coach Jim Stephens, Coach Sharon Vukich

Sonsalla 3EW–Centerville: Bob Harris, Dan Ziegler, John Critzman, Steve Schefter 3ERU–Rocky Run: Mark Kretzmann, Pete Caldwell, Todd Cibulka, Mark Gehl 4EW–Pardeeville: Craig Lowe, Mark Considine, Russ Schieber, Micah Neef 4ERU–Madison: Pete McCormick, Michael Statz, Keith Desjarles, Thad Kosal

Dana Haagenson, Andy Krahn, Mike Behling 2EW—Medford: Steve Amundson, Tim Hovre, Craig Zirngible, Seth Amundson 2ERU—Medford: Bill Weiland, Byron Peche, Wayne Weiland, Ken Staab 3EW—Stevens Point: Jack Konopacky, Tom Okray, Doug Oswald, J.T. Anderson 3ERU—Marshfield: Dennis Jacobsen, Paul Tishim, Ron Lubeck, Dale Walz 4EW—Marshfield: Mike Bissonette, Jon Kalsow, Matt Ruhbusch, Dave Ruhbusch 4ERU—Wausau: Scott Stensberg, Chris Horak, Bill Graef, Nick Kavajecz

Belfast Women’s The Belfast Pine Tree Women’s Bonspiel took place March 12-14 in Belfast, Maine. Here are the results: 1EW—Beaver (Moncton, New Brunswick): Shirley Crawford, Roberta Hartlen, Joan Adams, JoAnne Thurrott 2EW—Albany: Martha Naber, Wendy Berger, Nancy Drischler, Joy Campisano 3EW—Belfast: Chris Stone, Meredith Coffin, Anita King, Linda Anderson

Marshfield Men’s The Marshfield Men’s “Home Brew” Bonspiel was held Feb. 12-14 in Marshfield, Wis. Here are the results: 1EW—Stevens Point: Doug Anderson, Will Torhorst, Jason Anderson, Justin Anderson 1ERU—Marshfield: Steve Borgemoen,

Curl Mesabi Men’s The Curl Mesabi Springspiel was held March 19-21 at Curl Mesabi in Eveleth, Minn. Here are the results: 1EW–Curl Mesabi: Ross Harvey, Craig Wainio, Garret Paine, Mark Mikulich 1ERU–Curl Mesabi: Seppo Sormunen, Greg Jaminski, Roger Nelson, Roger Henderson 2EW–Curl Mesabi: John Jankila, Gordy Dahl, Dave Caldwell, Ed Williams 2ERU–Hibbing: Tony Berarducci, Jim Hill, Mike Kniffin, Oren Botttoms 3EW–Hibbing: Aaron Wald, Tim Muller, Jared Zezel, John Muller 3ERU–Curl Mesabi: Lonnie Gulbranson, John Pearsall, Bob Stephenson, Scott Love

Members of the Pennsylvania and North Dakota teams pose for a photo at the 2010 U-18 Optimist International in Regina, Saskatchewan. Submitted photo

Wisconsin (2-4): Nick Spatola, Tom Gabower, Devon Maier, Mike Juszczyk, Coach Joel Dietz Women: North Dakota (3-5): Abi Lindgren, Emily Lindgren, Katie Sigurdson, Abby Whalen, Coach Dan Lindgren Pennsylvania (3-5): Sarah Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Meagan Hudson, Chelsea Martin, Coach Wayne Anderson

4EW–Curl Mesabi: Keith Harvey, Rick Newman, Steve Simonson, Ben Harvey 4ERU–Winnipeg: Chris Eck, Phil Chan, Jim Wonitowy, Don Baldwin

St. Paul Men’s The 22nd Annual Twin City Iron Ranger Scholarship Bonspiel was held Feb. 6-7 at the St. Paul Curling Club to raise scholarship money for students on Minnesota’s Iron Range. Here are the results: 1EW–St. Paul: Art Ruohonen, Rich Ruohonen, Mike Scheeberger, Brad Caldwell 1ERU–St Paul: Mark Arnold, Scott Clausen, Greg Walsh, Dave Smead 2EW–St Paul: Eric Schultz Team 2ERU–Hibbing: Evie Rule Team 3EW–Hibbing: Tom Schleppegrell Team 3ERU–Montana: John Angst Team 4EW–St. Paul: Ann Essling Team 4ERU–St. Paul: Julie Smith Team

Hibbing Men’s The Hibbing Last Chance Men’s Bonspiel took place March 25-28 with a dramatic final game between Mike Farbelow and reigning world senior champion Paul Pustovar. Here are the results: 1EW–St. Paul: Mike Farbelow, Kevin

Bonspiel results to report? Do you need to send in bonspiel results? Have questions/concerns/comments about content in the Curling News or do you just need to check on your subscription? Send emails to Editor Terry Kolesar at terry.kolesar@usacurl.org.

Deeren, Kraig Deeren, Tim Solin 1ERU–Hibbing: Paul Pustovar, Brian Simonson, Tom Harms, Don Mohawk 2EW–Curl Mesabi: Phill Drobnick rink 2ERU–Green Bay: Derek Casper rink 3EW–Mike Pozihun rink 3ERU–Steve Friesen rink 4EW–Duluth: Tyler George rink 4ERU–St. Paul: Shane McKinlay rink

Aksarben Open The Aksarben Irish Open took place March 19 in Omaha, Neb. Here are the results: 1EW—Owatonna: Shawn Slane, Matt Chester, Ryan Claussen, Layton Smith 1ERU—Omaha: Randy Kruger, David Steinhauser, Doug Moore, Matt English 2EW—Omaha: Derek Rau, John Cherek, Scott Jordan, Ian Atwood 2ERU—Omaha: Craig Larson, Nancy Myers, Dave Steiner, Renee Myers 3EW—Omaha: Tim Jacques, Paul Mollema, Michelle Jaixen, Brittany Butler 3ERU—Omaha: Dave Hemphill, Carl Peterson, Bobbie Greenspan, Eric Pulver 4EW—Omaha: Kevin Graslewicz, Mike Goltl, Marni Goltl, Matt Madigan 4ERU—Omaha: Mike Anderson, Rob Latimer, Wendy Hutchinson, Zach Voller

Pardeeville Men’s The 2010 Red Baron Bonspiel took place April 9-11 in Pardeeville, Wis. Here are the results: 1EW–Madison: Dave Brown, Dan Brown, Marcus Oldenburg, Mark Brown 1ERU–Madison: Ken Neidhart, Tom Gannon, Paul Ryan, Bruce Garner 2EW–Portage: Ron Wagner, Jake Wagner, Paul Nelson, Jason Bransma 2ERU–Centerville: Chad Anderson, Cody Trim, Todd Hammond, Luke

Winners of the 2010 Curl Mesabi Springspiel were (l-r) Mark Mikulich, Garret Paine, Craig Wainio and Ross Harvey.

Winners of the GNCC 10 Year and Under Bonspiel were Dan Machold, Charlie Brown, Richard Gonyeau and Mike O’Neill.

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

Arlington Senior Men’s The Arlington (Wis.) Curling Club hosted its ninth annual Senior Men’s Bonspiel on March 26-27. Here are the results: 1EW—Wausau: Steve Sirianni, Tom Wood, Pete Neitzel, Rob Wixson 1ERU—Madison: Steve O’Connor, Dan Lynch, Tony Wendricks, Al Hafeman 2EW—Chicago: Ed Thompson, Steve Carlson, Morgan Porter, Dave Bemus 2ERU—Arlington: Marv Manke, Marv Plenty, Mike Halverson, John Stevenson 3EW—Madison: Stan Vinge, Wally Henry, Bruce Garner, Don Kind 3ERU—Arlington: Lewie Falk, Dave Qualle, Clif Erstad, Gordon Dunn 4EW—Milwaukee: Crandall Hays, Steve Sedgwick, Ron Jodat, Ken Blanton 4ERU—Lodi: Gerry Peterson, Merlin Holerud, Ollie Olson, Dale Olsen 5EW—Portage: LaVern Griffin, Ron Wagner, Steve Miller, Jim Lee 5ERU—Milwaukee: George Alt, George Holmes, Herb Rasmussen, Don White

Winners of the Wisconsin Women’s High School Championship were (l-r) Portage High School’s Alexandra Schieber, Jennifer Behnke, Kathleen Dubberstein, Keagon Garrigan and Coach Jim Shlimovitz.

Winners of the 69th annual Wauwatosa (Wis.) Men’s Invitational Bonspiel were (front, l-r) Dave Brown, Dan Brown, Mark Brown, Thom Kieffer. Runners-up were (standing, l-r) Rob Hipke, Tim Torgerson, Jim Matthews and Steve Wycklendt.

Green Bay Junior The 2010 Green Bay Curling Club Junior Bonspiel took place March 1921.Nineteen teams from Wisconsin and Illinois participated in Developmental and Competitive brackets. Here are the results: Competitive: 1EW—Madison: Blake Morton, Marcus Fonger, Bobby Splinter, Calvin Weber 1ERU—Green Bay: Erin Wallace, Chloe Pahl, Susan Kawleski, Ryan Maier, Devon Maier 2EW—Stevens Point: Mark Henning, Megan Henning, Marshall Benzine, Becca Kelble 2ERU—Wausau: Jeremy Stubbe, Evan Brauer, Andy Summer, Ethan Massey. 3EW—Stevens Point: Dan Journeaux, Will Journeaux, Spencer Tuskowski, Dan Gabower 3ERU—Waupacca: Aaron Johnston, Ryan Johnston, Dan Wasrud, Austin Schroeder 4EW—Wausau: Trisha Miller, Samantha Witter, Trisha Gospodarek, Stacy Miller 4ERU—Wausau: Sarah Sandquist, Sylvia Veleker, Hannah Johnson, Melissa Sandquist Developmental: 1EW—Green Bay: Molly Koepke, Kylee Traub, Katie Kaseno, Jaime Lemke, Bailey Fenendael, Kendra McKeefry 1ERU—Portage: Jayde Curley, Nathan Krumpos, Cara Henney, AnnMarie Dubberstein

Schenectady/GNCC Open The GNCC 10 & Under Bonspiel took place Dec. 11-13. Here are the results: 1EW—Schenectady 3: Dan Machold, Charlie Brown, Richard Gonyeau, Mike O’Neill 1ERU—Schenectady 1: Pat Fitzgerald, Art Merkley, Jeff Mayott, Scott Brennan 2EW—Green Mountain: Mike Sitko, Rob Allen, Scot Rose, Mitch Dehond 2ERU—Triangle: Rich Collins, Ken Kato, Nick Witcraft, Mario Riveron 3EW—Schenectady 5: Andy Dicke, Brad Austin, Todd Tolliver, Jeff Howles 3ERU—Utica 2: Conrad Law, Bill Turner, Jim Schafer, Joel Scherer 4EW—Schenectady 4: Marek Rzonca, Jeff Muha, Andy Way, Matt Daly 4ERU—Albany: Bret Sentiwany, Dan Keller, Bob Briggs, Gary Conn

Schenectady/GNCC Men’s The 138th Gordon Emmett GNCC Championship took place March 11-13 at the Schenectady (N.Y.) Curling Club. Here are the results: 1EW—Schenectady 3: Dan Machold, Dave Fink, Richard Gonyeau, Charlie Brown 1ERU—Schenectady 1: Jack Stopera, Brian Damon, Jim Sinkins, Marek Rzonca

Winners of the Wisconsin Men’s High School Championship were (l-r) Wausau West High School’s Matthew Sanquist, Jeremy Stubbe, Andy Summers, Ethan Massey, Evan Brauer and Coach James Wendling. 2EW—Broomstones 1: Bryan Fink, Eric Paul, Wade Norquay, Paul Marseglia 2ERU—Schenectady 5: Vic Temple, Fred Mackintosh, Dan Navratil, Andy Way 3EW—Schenectady 4: Pat Fitzgerald, Pete Drechsler, Jeff Mayott, Brad Austin 3ERU—Schenectady 2: Tim Brooks, Tom Vickerson, Dave Hooper, Jim Jordan 4EW—Nutmeg: Joseph Smith, Rob Chebetar, David Asano, Jim Meinhold 4ERU—Albany: Brian Costello, Dan Keller, Lou Horton, Bret Sentiwany

Schenectady/GNCC Senior Mixed The GNCC Senior Mixed Championship took place April 9-11 at the Schenectady (N.Y.) Curling Club. Here are the results: 1EW—Albany 3: Andra Scheinkoph, Hollis Felice, Ray Hickey, Roberta Crain 1ERU—Schenectady 2: Dorothy Szymaszek Jim Sinkins, MJ Miller, Dick Powell 2EW—Albany 1: Ed Springstead, Winn Schwartz, Art Nuss, Flo Springstead 2ERU—Utica: Roger Rowlett, Sue Gardner, Jerry Stevens, Mary Jane Walsh 3EW—Cape Cod: Mary Colacchio, Mike Minior, Cathy Offinger, Tony Colacchio 3ERU—Schenectady 5: Vic Temple, Majik Jones, Mike Luft, Ann Hooker 4EW—Schenectady 3: Eleanor Lisuzzo, Dave Rubin, Alice Rubin, Jeff Faulkner 4ERU—Schenectady 4: Bette Sovik, Fred Mackintosh, Gordon Streeter, Barbara Lavin

Hibbing Junior The 42nd Annual Serrano Memorial Junior Bonspiel took place March 13-14 at the Hibbing (Minn.) Curling Club. Here are the results: 1EW—Hibbing: Tanner Blagoue, Ryan Riihinen, Jack Furlong, Jarrett Lee 1ERU—Hibbing: Mike Stevens rink 2EW—Chisholm: Shaye Perkovich rink 2ERU—Hibbing: John Muller rink 3EW—Duluth: Noah Plys rink 3ERU—Chisholm: Aaron Wald rink Beginner’s Division: 1EW—Hibbing: Zach Lind rink 1ERU—Hibbing: Taylor Maki rink 2EW—Curl Mesabi: Sydney Patrow

rink 2ERU—Chisholm: Skylar Appelman rink 3EW—Duluth: Jake Miles rink 3ERU—Chisholm: Jake Giermann rink

Kettle Moraine Men’s The 45th Annual Kettle Moraine Men's Invitational Bonspiel took place March 19-21. Here are the results: 1EW—Wauwatosa: Rob Hipke, Dave Brown, John Dunlop, Thom Kieffer 1ERU—Kettle Moraine: Smily Gebert, Dave Foley, Dan Jegier, Jim Hulen 2EW—Thornhill: Ron Morrison, Dave Randall, Mike Schultz, Jim Downs 2ERU—North Shore: EJ Stern, Ev Wilson, Paul Lange, John Neff 3EW—St. Paul: Erik Ordway, Greg Walsh, Mike Orme, Dave Menter, Jim Dexter 3ERU—Kettle Moraine: Todd Flemming, John Fisher, Casey Clark, Mark Nyka 4EW—Appleton:Tony Mueller, Greg Johnson, John Mayville, Shawn Kennedy 4ERU—St. Paul: Doug Henning, Vince Bernet, Eric Schultz, William Rivilas 5EW—La Crosse: Doug Anderson, Kraig Ketola, Don Hutchinson, Scott Masloroff 5ERU—Wauwatosa: Jim Matthews, Mike Elwing, Mike Zimmerman, Bill Christensen, Bob Miller

Nashua Men’s The Granite State Men’s Bonspiel took place March 4-7 at the Nashua Country Club in Nashua, N.H. Here are the results: 1EW—Broomstones I: Robby Melville, Mike Rosa, Scott Olson, Jeff Marchand 1ERU—Merrimack Valley: Warren Barclay, Leo Lambert, Bill King, Tim Miller 2EW—Boston: Sam Williams, Bob Chandler, Andy McKellips, Rich Collier 2ERU—Nashua: Ed Clark, Mark Kanakis, David Annand, Doug Folkins 3EW—Canadian Club II: Paul Sofuolis, V. Dan Dacey, 2. Tim Luehrman, L. Adam Jacobson 3ERU—Cape Cod I: Russ Lemcke, Glen Amoral, John McCarthy, Frank Balas 4EW—Nashua III: Jeff Fasulo, Tony Tremblay, Allan Nesbitt, Frank Shaffer 4ERU—Granite: Peter Lyons, Don Wight, Ben Clark, Doug Krailo

Winners of the competitive division of the Serrano Junior Bonspiel were (standing, l-r) Jack Furlong, Tanner Blagoue, (kneeling, l-r) Ryan Riihinen and Jarrett Lee.

Winners of the Nutmeg Junior Bonspiel were (l-r) Thomas Howell, Cameron Ross, Katie Sullivan and Allison Howell.

Winners of the Two Harbors Mixed Bonspiel were (l-r) Seppo Sormunen, Jill Hansen, Brice Hansen and Anita Sormunen.

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Nutmeg Junior The Neon Nutmeg Junior Bonspiel was held on Feb. 20-21 at Nutmeg Curling Club in Bridgeport, Conn. Here are the results: 1EW—Plainfield: Thomas Howell, Cameron Ross, Katie Sullivan, Allison Howell 1ERU—Schenectady: John Zaoutis, Sebastian Elliot, Peter Douglass, Connor Chew 2EW—Nutmeg: Kent Suslavich, Joe Sipzner, Miles Hogarth, Matt Gu 2ERU—Philadelphia: Taylor Anderson, Chelsea Martin, Lindy Disman, Kate Shickel 3EW—Nutmeg: Abbey Suslavich, Hilary Nigrosh, Billy Dunne, Emily Winter 3ERU—Nutmeg: Libby Brundage, Jenna Burchesky, Emily Annand, Liz Brown 4EW—Broomstones: Korey Dropkin, Alex Prelusky, Shannon Ringler, Cami Sullivan 4ERU—Schenectady: Raquel Hillis, Julie Gaines, Ashlyn Hillis, Devin Guilfoyle

Winners of the Stevens Point Men’s Bonspiel were (front, l-r) Casey Konopacky, Ash Nelson, Jack Konopacky and Andy Sorenson. Runners-up were (back, l-r) Steve Sirianni, Ian Journeaux, Pete Neitzel and Kelly Fraser.

Winners of the GNCC Senior Mixed Bonspiel were Andra Scheinkoph, Hollis Felice, Ray Hickey and Roberta Crain.

GNCC Touring Champions were Nutmeg’s (l-r) Joseph Smith, Rob Chebetar, David Asano and Jim Meinhold. Presenting the award was Jim Sinkins (far left).

Winners of Schenectady’s Achilles Bonspiel were (l-r) Dan Machold, Dion Warr, Dave Hooper and Mike Beaton.

Winners of the Stevens Point Mixed Bonspiel were (l-) Pat Gillis, Peggy Gazzola, Mary Westberg and Pete Westberg (skip).

Winners of the Kettle Moraine Men’s Bonspiel were (l-r) Rob Hipke, Dave Brown, John Dunlop and Thom Kieffer.

Winners of the GNCC Men’s Championship were (l-r) Dan Machold, Dave Fink, Richard Gonyeau and Charlie Brown.

Winners of the Granite State Men’s Bonspiel in Nashua were (l-r) Robby Melville, Mike Rosa, Scott Olson and Jeff Marchand.

Winner of the Green Bay Junior Bonspiel Competitive Division were (l-r) Calvin Weber, Bobby Splinter, Marcus Fonger and Blake Morton.

Winners of the Green Bay Junior Bonspiel Developmental Division were (l-r) Bailey Fenendael, Katie Kaseno, Kendra McKeefry, Molly Koepke and Kylee Traub.

Stevens Point Men’s The Stevens Point (Wis.) Men’s Bonspiel took place March 12-14. Here are the results: 1EW—Eau Claire: Casey Konopacky, Ash Nelson, Jack Konopacky, Andy Sorenson 1ERU—Wausau: Steve Sirianni, Ian Journeaux, Pete Neitzel, Kelly Fraser 2EW—Medford: Ryan Lemke, Ryan Strebig, Tommy Gengler, Casey Nernberger 2ERU—Clintonville: Chase Schroeder, Clint Schroeder, Mike Krueger, Tyler Steenbeck 3EW—Eau Claire: Jim Beirne, Dave Coon, Scot Biederman, John Blavert 3ERU—Wausau: Phil McKrackin, Steve Okeefe, Dick Fitzwell, Pat Megroyn, Hugh Jasse 4EW—Eau Claire: Brooks Bauer, Tim Hangartner, Mark Lilly, Barad Sommer 4ERU—Marshfield: Michael Bissonette, Jon Kalsow, Matt Ruhlousch, Kyle Kostad

Potomac Men’s The Potomac Cherry Blossom took place March 25-28 in Laurel, Md. Here are the results: 1EW—Richmond Hill/Pittsburgh: Andrew Rydholm, Fiona Shearer, Nicholas Visnich, Alexander Visnich 1ERU—Potomac IV: Nick Datlowe, Melissa Fox, Jeremy Vandenhouten, Karl Anderson 2EW—Rochester: Hannah Ely, Rebecca Andrew, Becky Vanarsdall, Jeff Vanarsdall 2ERU—Utica: Katlyn Beebe, Kayla Martin, Marissa Wright, Kyle Buckles 3EW—Potomac I: Bill MacDonald, Harvey Chalmers, Rich Warner, Virginia Chalmers 3ERU—Nutmeg: Joseph Smith, Diane Muldowny, David Asano, Joel Leneker 4EW—Potomac III: Scott Edie, D. Baxter, KC McGrath, Brian Parsons 4ERU—Nutmeg III: Chris Conley, Peter DeJong, Matt Bertonica, Jim O'Boyle

Racine Mixed The Racine (Wis.) Curling Club held the 2010 Mixed Invitational Feb. 12-14. Here are the results: 1EW—Wauwatosa: James Krutilla, Pauline Krutilla, Jason Pickett, Ericka Pickett 1ERU—Blackhawk: Gary Olson, Darcie Olson, Harlen Edelman, Sally Edelman 2EW—Kettle Moraine: John Geason, Dianna Talor, Keith Berres, Carol Berres 2ERU—Blackhawk: Jim Wilhelm, Nancy Wilhelm, Don Knudsen, Pam Ollie 3EW—Blackhawk: Aaron Richards, Deb Richards, Phil Boutwell, Shelley Boutwell 3ERU—Chicago: Paul Arnold, Nancy Otis, Wilson Gottschild, Karrie Gottschild 4EW—Alpine: Dave Wolter, Jan Wolter, Bob Johnson, Lisa Floyd 4ERU—Blackhawk: Ryan Spielman, Laureen Spielman, Bill Schlager, Ann Schlager

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

MAY 2010

Stevens Point Mixed The Stevens Point (Wis.) Mixed Bonspiel took place March 26-28. Here are the results: 1EW—Chicago: Pete Westberg, Peggy Gazzola, Pat Gillis, Mary Westberg 1ERU—Milwaukee: Fred Blizzard, Sue Blizzard, Kevin Moran, Melissa Moran 2EW—Wausau: Dennis Tietge, Jodi Olmstead, Dan Olmstead, Mary Jo Tietge 2ERU—Milwaukee: Frank Gedelman, Renee Harmon, Jeff Steffek, Susan Gedelman 3EW—Wausau: Howie Fisher, Susan Sanquist, Corey Sanquist, Terri Fisher 3ERU—Marshfield: Clarence Topp, Pat Topp, Rick Scheuer, Diane Scheuemann 4EW—La Crosse: Ash Nelson, Elyse Sorenson, Andy Sorenson, Kim Sorenson 4ERU—Wausau: Jim Wendling, Diane Miller, Chuck Miller, Mark Wendling

Winners of the Pardeeville Red Baron Men’s Bonspiel were (l-r) Dave Brown, Dan Brown, Marcus Oldenburg and Mark Brown.

Winners of the Aksarben Irish Open were (l-r) Shawn Slane, Matt Chester, Ryan Claussen and Layton Smith.

Winners of the Arlington Men’s Bonspiel were (front, l-r) Kevin Dereen, Ryan Brunot, Travis Carter and Barnie Lohan. Runnersup were (back, l-r): Dan Wiza, Art Espinoza, Paul Ryan and Bruce Garner.

Winners of the Arlington Senior Bonspiel were (front, l-r) Steve Sirianni, Tom Wood, Pete Neitzel and Rob Wixson. Runners-up were (back, l-r) Steve O’Connor, Dan Lynch, Tony Wendricks and Al Hafeman.

Winners of the Belfast Pine Tree Women’s Bonspiel were (l-r) Shirley Crawford, Roberta Hartlen, Joan Adams and JoAnne Thurrott.

Winners of the Detroit Curling Club’s Mixed International Bonspiel were (l-r) Paul Szmigiel, Lee Davis, Fred Zosel and Karen Jamieson.

Winners of the 75th Fairbanks Men’s International were (l-r) Matt Birklid, Chris Benshoof, Colin Hufman, Steven Birklid and Atticus Wallace.

Winners of the 75th Fairbanks Women’s International were (l-r) Adie Callahan, Terra Bowen, Cathy Shuttleworth and Kelly Fezatte.

Winners of the Coyotes Desert Bonspiel were Alberta’s (l-r) Tim Yeo, Matt Yeo, Bronco Briggs, Travis Fraser and Dave Fraser.

Winners of the Marshfield Men’s Bonspiel were (l-r) Doug Anderson, Will Torhorst, Jason Anderson and Justin Anderson.

Tri-City Men’s The 52nd Tri City Curling Club Menspiel was held March 5-7 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Here are the results: 1EW—Stevens Point: Ian Journeaux, Jack Konopacky, William Journeaux, Jay Wagner 2EW—Eau Claire: Jim Bierne, Rich DeVriend, Bob Henrich, Corey Henrich 3EW—Poynette: Stew Wild, Mark Kretzman, Peter Caldwell, Mark Clement 4EW—Eau Claire: Chris McMahon, Dan Herzberg, Ken Krueger, Mark Peterson

Two Harbors Mixed The Two Harbors (Minn.) Mixed Bonspiel took place March 26-28. Here are the results: 1EW—Duluth: Seppo Sormunen, Jill Hansen, Brice Hansen, Anita Sormunen 2EW—Two Harbors: Mike O'Leary, Norma O'Leary, Jeff Peterson, Cathy Erickson 3EW—Two Harbors: Jim Turnquist, Kay Libby, Gary Fabini, Alexis Lanigan

Waltham Mixed The 2010 Waltham Mixed Bonspiel took place March 5-7. Here are the results: 1EW—Alpine: Steve Flanagan, Traci Schultz, Mike Leibundgut, Shelly Leibundgut 1ERU—Wilmette: Greg Stewart, Sandy Resetich, Mark Cretella, Sherri Strauss 2EW—Chicago: Jack Wulfekuhle, Susan Bennett, David Style, Elissa Yee 2ERU—Regina/Chicago: Darrin Beach, Julie Denten, Pete Carmichael, Jane Johnson-Nelson 3EW—Kettle Moraine: Jerry Helding, Mary Nelson, Jim Nelson, Chris Helding 3ERU—Wilmette: Al Longmore, Judy Longmore, Kevin Ritter, Cathy Ritter 4EW—Chicago: Dan Hinderer, Jen Hinderer, Nate Hinderer, Elizabeth Demers 4ERU—Kettle Moraine: Ron Kase, Cathy Kase, Bob Fleming, Flip Fleming of the Kettle Moraine Curling Club

Wauwatosa Men’s The 69th annual Wauwatosa (Wis.) Men’s Invitational Bonspiel was held March 12-14. Here are the results: 1EW—Winona Yacht and Gun Club: Dave Brown, Dan Brown, Mark Brown, Thom Kieffer 1ERU—Wauwatosa: Rob Hipke, Tim Torgerson, Jim Matthews, Steve Wycklendt 2EW—Milwaukee: Mark Conrardy, Peter Conrardy, Fred Richter, Steve Shallock 2ERU—Milwaukee: Mike Snyder, Matt Goelzer, Billy Geller, Todd Orlowski 3EW—Milwaukee: Chuck Severson, Gary Lindsey, Jim Rasche, Bon Unkel 3ERU—Wauwatosa: Rick Lemke, Steve Scheuing, Rick Heim, Jay Murphy 4EW—Kettle Moraine: Dave Lewis, Dennis Smith, Matt Lee, Mark Blackman 4ERU—Racine: Don Knudson, Matt Wood, Nate Hazen, Brian Waldera

MAY 2010

Celebrating 50 years – 1958-2008

Washington repeats as U.S. mixed champions 2010 U.S. Mixed National Championship Chicago Curling Club Round Robin Washington (Clark) North Dakota I (Gulseth) Wisconsin (Karst) Connecticut (Surka) California (Sieg) Minnesota (Gervais) Alaska (Shuttleworth) Illinois (Wright) Michigan (Gault) North Dakota II (Heier)

by Terry Kolesar, Editor

ashington’s first couple of curling won their seventh mixed national title as the 2010 U.S. Mixed National Championship wrapped up March 27 at the Chicago Curling Club. Brady Clark and wife Cristin (of Lynnwood, Wash.) from Seattle’s Granite Curling Club only needed four ends to win their seventh title as they got off to a fast start in defeating Al Gulseth’s North Dakota 1 team, 10-1, for the gold medal. This is the sixth title for team lead Bev Walter (Seattle) and second for Philip Tilker (Seattle). This was the first appearance in the mixed finale for Gulseth and teammates Michelle Wagner (Fargo, N.D.), Mark Gulseth (Aberdeen, S.D.) and Patty Olesen (Fargo, N.D.), who finished the week with an 8-3 overall record. The veteran Washington rink scored four points in the first end and followed up with steals of two and four before Gulseth scored a single and conceded the match. The Clarks won their first title in 2002 and

*ND1 WI CT *WA

Semifinals: 030 003 103 x 002 110 010 x

001 003 110 x 200 310 003 x Bronze-medal game: *WI 110 101 011 0 CT 002 010 100 3 Gold-medal game: ND1 000 1xx xxx x *WA 424 0xx xxx x *last rock in first end

Winners of the 2010 U.S. Mixed National Championship title were (l-r) Brady Clark, Cristin Clark, Philip Tilker and Bev Walter of Seattle’s Granite Curling Club. Submitted photo

again in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 to remain as the most decorated mixed champions in U.S. history. Derek Surka’s team from Connecticut scored three points in the final end to win the bronze medal over Lori Karst’s team from Wisconsin. Surka (New Haven,

Conn.) and teammates Charrissa Lin (New Haven, Conn.), Sean Murray (Edgewood, Md.) and Rachel Sethi (Falls Church, Va.) gave up a steal of one to Karst (Madison, Wis.) and teammates David Carlson (Portage, Wis.), Angela Montgomery (Fitchburg, Wis.) and Dan

Wiza (Waunakee, Wis.) in the ninth end, making it a two-point deficit, but they were able to earn three for the win. The Surka rink overcame a rough start to the week when they found themselves 0-3 after two days of competition before starting a winning streak to make a run at the playoffs.

8-1 7-2 6-3 5-4 4-5 4-5 3-6 3-6 3-6 2-7

10 5 6 9 6 7 1 10

NBC Universal to air Vancouver highlights documentary Keep the Olympic spirit going strong by tuning in to “Visions of Vancouver” at 9 p.m. ET on May 24 on NBC Universal Sports. The documentary will highlight the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from Vancouver. Learn more, www.universalsports.com.

The U.S. Curling Association is proud to recognize the following sponsors who support our sport and organization: