NATIONAl ChAMPIONshIPs 2011 U.s. National Championships Feb. 12-19 • Fargo, N.D.
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fter coming so close so many times in the past few years, Patti Lank was crowned national champion once again after defeating Allison Pottinger’s team, 9-4, in the gold-medal match on Feb. 19 at the 2011 USA Curling National Championships at Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D. With the win, Lank (Lewiston, N.Y.) and teammates Caitlin Maroldo (Rochester, N.Y.), Jessica Schultz (Richfield, Minn.) and Mackenzie Lank (Lewiston, N.Y.) represented the U.S. at the 2011 Capital One World Women’s Championship in Esbjerg, Denmark, where the team finished seventh. “I think this one is special because I’ve been working with these girls for so long, and for Cait, this is her first time and she’s been working so hard,” said Lank, who also won titles in 2004, 2002, 1999 and 1997 to tie her with Debbie McCormick for the most U.S. Women’s Nationals titles as a skip at five. “It feels good not to be crying after a game because I’m sad. These are happy tears.” Lank finished runner-up the past three years and four other times since her first national championship appearance in 1994. Nine-time U.S. champion and 2010 Olympian Pottinger put the loss on her shoulders after the game. “I played poorly. I missed some shots that you can’t miss. Patti played really well,” Pottinger said. “This was my first time skipping, and I’m proud of this team. They played really well all week.” Pottinger and teammates Nicole Joraanstad (Madison, Wis.), Natalie Nicholson (Bemidji, Minn.) and Tabitha Peterson (Eagan, Minn.) added silver to an impressive stack of medals won by this group of athletes in the past two decades at junior nationals, women’s nationals and world competitions. The women’s Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award was presented to Chrissy Haase (Schenectady, N.Y.). The award honors the late Ann Brown from Chicago who contributed greatly to the sport of curling. The award is voted on by the participants and is presented to the two athletes (one male, one female) who best exhibit fair play and sportsmanship on the ice.
Jessica Schultz (left) and Mackenzie Lank react after clinching the 2011 national title. Photo by Jerome Larson
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