Curling News UNITED STATES
December/January 2011
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Volume 66 Number 2
Established 1945
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www.usacurl.org
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$2.50
Fenson inducted into Hall of Fame by Terry Kolesar, Editor
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INSIDE: SERVICE FOR YOU: Member Services has a lot to offer. Page 3. GOOD CURLING Single phrase has so much meaning. Page 4. COLLEGE CRAZE: 20 years of college tourneys. Page 6. TURKEY TIME: Wisconsin team set to head to Turkey. Page 9. HOSTESS TIME: St. Paul set to host Sr. & Mixed Worlds. Page 10. TOP TRAINING: Nutmeg offers unique learning experience. Page 11. FARGO!: Head to Fargo in 2011. Page 12.
DEPARTMENTS Bonspiel Results – P14 College Curling – P6 Comics–P6 Curler’s Calendar–P5 Member Services–P3 Rocket Exhaust–P5 Tales from Sheet 9–P7 USWCA – P4
ob Fenson (Bemidji, Minn.) has been a significant part of USA Curling’s history on and off the ice throughout his 40plus career with the sport. That storied career has been affirmed as Fenson was inducted into the USA Curling Hall of Fame this fall in the builder category. “It’s a great honor to be inducted into the USCA Hall of Fame, and I feel privileged to be in the company of the other inductees,” Fenson said.
Fenson
“It’s amazing to be given an award for something I enjoy so much.” Fenson, 64, coached son Pete Fenson to curling’s first Olympic medal in 2006 when Pete’s team
defeated Great Britain for the bronze medal in Torino, Italy. But, his career began much further back than that storied day. “The two most instrumental people in getting me involved in curling were my aunt, Norma Olson, who introduced me to the game in 1960 when I was 13 years old, and my father, Walt, who also encouraged me to play,” Fenson said. “I really value and appreciate all the people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made through curling. It’s not difficult to give some back to something I’ve enjoyed my whole life. It’s great to be part of the curling family.
As an athlete, Fenson played in five National Championships, winning the title in 1979. He also won the U.S. Senior Nationals in 2003 and brought home a silver medal from the World Senior Championships that season. His resume as a coach is extensive ranging from junior national championships to the Olympic Games. Fenson coached at the Men’s and Women’s National Championships
Please see HALL OF FAME on Page 15.
20th College tournament on tap
Detroit marks 125 years!
The National College Tournament will mark its 20th event this season. The Chicago-area curling clubs once again will host the event, which will take place March 11-13. This is a great opportunity for college curlers to curl against their peers in an event that costs little to attend and provides great camaraderie in return. The entry fee for this year’s event will be $120 per team. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. CT on March 1. Get your entries in early to assure acceptance. There will be 32 teams with a waiting list starting after that number is reached. Divisions will be seeded based on experience with awards handed out to all levels.
The Detroit Curling Club recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. Detroit’s Chuck Thomas (back, l-r), Doug Campbell, Dennis O’Connor (front, l-r) and Paul Szmigiel represented Detroit at the 1984 U.S. National Championships held in Hibbing, Minn. See story about the celebration on Page 7 in David Garber’s column, “Tales from Sheet Nine.”
Please see COLLEGE TOURNEY on Page 6.
Chicago set to host 2011 Senior Bonspiel by Mike Griem, Chairman 2011 Senior Men’s Bonspiel
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he 2011 National Senior Men’s Curling Championships, sponsored by the U.S. Senior Men’s Curling Association (USSMCA), will be cohosted by Chicago Curling Club and Exmoor Curling
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Club from Feb. 17-20. Chicago-area curling clubs also co-hosted this event in 1992, 1998, and 2004. The championships are the largest U.S. bonspiel. They offer an unparalleled opportunity for camaraderie and fair competition among senior curlers. Prior participants have come from 70 U.S. curling clubs, 27 of which have hosted the
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event. This bonspiel should not be confused with the USA Curling Senior National Championships, which determines teams for the World Senior Championships. The Chicago venue is extremely popular because of the great hospitality, excellent curling facilities, and access to one of America’s most interesting
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cities. The prompt return of your entry form will be needed to secure a place in the championships. While as many as 88 rinks have participated in prior Chicago area Championships, the 2011
Please see SENIOR BONSPIEL on Page 15.
F I N E S S E
Curling News UNITED STATES
VOLUME 66, No. 2
DEC/JAN 2011
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: Feb. 4, 2011 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 Chris Sjue Vice Presidents Kent Beadle Dave Carlson Jerome Larson James Pleasants Treasurer Jack Bernauer Secretary Bob Pelletier Directors Paul Badgero [2012] Kent Beadle [2012] Jack Bernauer* [2011] Craig Brown (AAC) [2011] Dave Carlson [2013] Maureen Clark (AAC) [2011] Lynita Delaney [2012] Janet Farr (USWCA) [2012] Dean Gemmell (AAC) [2011] Nancy Haggenmiller [2013] Peggy Hatch** [2011] Jonathan Havercroft [2013] Cyndee Johnson [2011] Nicole Joraanstad (AAC) [2011] Gwen Krailo [2013]
Jerome Larson [2012] Jan Legacie [2011] Gordon Maclean [2013] Richard Maskel (AAC) [2011] Bob Pelletier [2012] James Pleasants [2013] Leland Rich [2011] Sean Silver [2012] Chris Sjue [2013] Mark Swandby [2011] Ann Swisshelm (AAC) [2011] Beau Welling* [2011] 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 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Christy Hering, christy.hering@usacurl.org
Off-site staff: 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 Nancy Seitz FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Maureen Guay SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Bridget Matzke SECRETARY Mary Ann Hulme TREASURER Carolyn MacLeod USCA LIAISON Janet Farr PROMOTIONS & Nancy Wilhelm PUBLIC RELATIONS
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USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Curling is definitely a year-round event with growth of sport
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here’s no doubt that there’s a lot going on in the curling world right now. The sport is growing not only here in the United States but in Canada as well, as a recent story in the Vancouver Sun pointed out. We hear from our colleagues at the World Curling Federation that the sport is expanding globally as well on the other side of the pond. People often ask the national office staff what we do during the summer months. After a confused look, I explain that curling doesn’t stop just because the snow melted. The summer months are spent getting ready for the next season and beyond. A great thing to note on the bonspiel calendar is that curlers are curling yearround now! Thanks to the growth in arena curling, many clubs have their curling schedules begin in the summer, giving many the dream scenario – golf during the day, curl at night. The calendar this year went all through the summer, which was awesome to see. The summer of 2011 looks busy with bonspiels, too, so plan accordingly for some great summer events such as the TropiCurl in Pittsburgh or the Carolina Classic at the Triangle club in North Carolina. Since the 2010 Olympic Winter Games concluded in February, a lot has happened in the world of curling. A team from Norway put argyle-patterned pants on the map and made me dizzy while trying to pay close attention to the games not only at the Olympics but, yes, both the men’s and women’s representatives wore them at the subsequent worlds. Silliness aside, USA Curling welcomed two new sponsors since then – RAM Restaurant and Brewery as well as Brooms Up Curling Supplies. RAM is headquartered in Lakewood, Wash., and as part of its sponsorship, will be donating a portion of each sale of its award-winning Big Horn “Taster Curl” beer sampler to USA Curling. The sampler is in the shape of the curl of the horns on a big horn sheep (RAM) and includes six, 3-ounce samples of the company beers. The “Curls for Curling” campaign will be ongoing in 24 participating locations across the country. I’ve already heard from several curlers at the Granite Curling Club in Seattle that there is a RAM location just minutes from the curling club, and it already was a hot spot for
curlers post-league and bonspiel play. Check it out and help support USA Curling: www.theram.com. To learn more about this new sponsor, see Page 13. Brooms Up Curling Supplies is headquartered in Woodbury, Conn. The new supply company is owned and operated by Nutmeg Curling Club curlers Gary and Megan Suslavich. We first met the Suslavichs last year when we had a media event at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and needed supplies for a curling booth to help educate people during a two-day pre-Olympic celebration. They are donating 2 percent of all sales annually to USA Curling to further help grow the sport of curling. Brooms Up also has sponsored curling clinics and U.S. Women’s Curling Association events. A few weeks ago, when we heard that the Turkish teams preparing for the upcoming Winter World University Games (Erzurum, Turkey, is the host in January) had makeshift curling equipment, I called Megan and Gary and didn’t even need to complete my sentence before they offered to donate brooms to send overseas. Their kids, Abbey and Kent, are in the junior program at Nutmeg, aspiring to be future Olympians. Longtime sponsor Dan Field, owner of many information technology companies, marked his 11th year of sponsorship of USA Curling, contributing more than $1 million of support for USA Curling and associated clubs and competitors in that time span. Field assists us on-site at national and world events each year (most often when Rick or I break things; sorry about that laptop in Cortina, Dan.) and also provides sponsor support to the World Curling Federation, serving as chief information technologist. We’re also grateful to continue our sponsor relationship with AIT Worldwide Logistics of Chicago for shipping championship equipment as well as new curling stones to the everexpanding number of new clubs across the U.S. Nike continues to provide substantial support to USA Curling by outfitting national and world teams as well as providing apparel for various marketing and promotional initiatives. Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is nearing completion of its first year of sponsorship of USA Curling, and renewal discussions are underway. We con-
From the Editor’s Desk
Ideas? Complaints? Send your thoughts to Curling News Editor Terry Kolesar terry.kolesar@usacurl.org 715-344-1199, Ext. 202
tinue to partner with United Airlines to offset the costs associated with traveling to meetings and championship events. This year, United is offering a 5 percent discount to most of the U.S. and worldwide curling events. You can check that out at www.united.com/usoc (use promo code 903AW when booking). Hilton Worldwide is another U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor offering benefits to USA Curling members, from discount room prices to group sales booking services. Check out their “Team USA Advantage” promotions by following the link from the USA Curling web site, www.usacurl.org. Gerry Geurts, owner of CurlingZone, continues to be a key partner each year for providing web services for live, online scoring during our championships to keep fans close to the action. This is just one small glimpse at what’s coming down the sheet at USA Curling’s headquarters. We hope to continue to foster our relationship with our member clubs, fans, sponsors, partners and future curlers for many years to come. Good curling!
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Curling News
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
UNITED STATES
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Your contact: Bev Schroeder, beverly.schroeder@usacurl.org; 1-888-287-5377, Ext. 203
This is where all the fun is!
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t the most recent USA Curling Board of Directors meeting the Member Services Committee was visited by a board member, and after listening to all the activities going on within Member Services, emphatically explained, “This is where all the fun is!” The activities of Member Services include a multitude of services for the general curling member as well as support for the member clubs. The areas of individual committees include Youth, Club and Membership Development, Training and Instruction, Arena Curling, College Curling and College Curling Tournament. The Olympics brought unprecedented inquiries for new clubs. The inquiries have not ceased as we are still getting a multitude of new inquiries. During this period USA Curling has increased the number of clubs by about 10 percent. St. Louis, Mo., and Oklahoma City, Okla., have formal requests to join the association and are awaiting acceptance by the Board of Directors. Similarly, Klamath Falls, Ore., has a request that is pending. The fall mailings have been sent to the presidents of all clubs and included in those packages are a number of new items. Decals with the new USA Curling logo were included and to be affixed on or close to the entry door of the club facility indicating that the club is a member of the United States Curling Association. New “How to Learn to Curl” pamphlets also were included. The response to these very cool and handy booklets has been outstanding to the point that a second printing is already being run. This year’s promotional poster was designed by a junior curler from Wisconsin named Ashley Keding, who volunteered this summer at the USA Curling office. Keding curled at the Stevens Point Curling Club until moving late this summer. Keding
by Jerome Larson, Vice President of Member Services jlcurler@frontiernet.net 707-673-6023 (cell)
put in many hours helping out the staff with various projects. She volunteered to make a draft of a poster and with the help of her mom created the final design. These posters can be used to promote open houses or other events a club hosts throughout a season. Each club received a few copies with their fall mailing. If you’d like to order more, call the USA Curling office. Every year Mini Membership Conferences are held in various geographic areas of the country. Plans are underway to hold a conference in the non-traditional curling areas of the southeast United States. If a region or club would like to hold a conference, please contact Member Services (beverly.schroeder@usacurl .org). Both on-ice and office information is provided. It is a wonderful source of looking at the “business of curling” as well as on ice instruction. Two new videos are being developed, one on transitioning arena ice to curling ice, which should be a great aid to arena clubs. The second video will replace the current “Sweeping the Nation” video to help all clubs in their quest to teach and reach out to new curlers. Plans are that they will be available for downloading from the USCA website. Preliminary work has
Advertise in the Curling News Have an event you’d like to advertise in the U.S. Curling News? For the latest rates and deadlines, contact Editor Terry Kolesar at 715-344-1199, Ext. 202 or terry.kolesar@usacurl.org.
started on creating a photo library for use by member clubs in their local promotional efforts. Some clubs have already taken advantage of this and have reported their appreciation for such a service. Based on photo sizes, these are being planned to be downloadable. A Volunteer of the Year Award will be instituted this year so that those hardworking club volunteers will be recognized. Further information on the application procedures will be forthcoming. The Youth Curling Committee and its camp activities are an important part of the Member Services Committee and will continue including, hopefully, camps for the potential competitive curler. This is under the direction of Dave Jensen (Capital Curling Club). The Training and Instruction Committee is always active under the tutelage of Sandra McMakin (Potomac Curling Club). Clubs or regions that would like help in putting on instruction or skills camps should contact McMakin (s.mcmakin@comcast.net). Janet Farr (DallasFort Worth Curling Club) heads up the Arena Curling Committee and she should be contacted with Arena Curling questions (jfarr103@sbcglobal.net). An Arena Curling Yahoo! group has been established and is a wealth of information. The College Curling Tournament is run by Rich Larko (larko2123@comcast.net) and Robert Richardson (richards.rob2@uwlax.edu) and is held annually in a number of clubs in the Chicago area. Any college
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Need more open house materials? Short on supplies for open houses? You can purchase additional copies of items supplied to clubs in the recent fall mailing by calling the USA Curling office and asking for Bev Schroeder, director of Member Services, 1-888-CURLERS (2875377), toll-free. • New Learn to Curl pamphlet, 50 cents per copy • USA Curling brochure, 25 cents per copy • USA Curling window cling, $4 per cling • 2010-11 Media Guide & Directory, $5 per copy • Promotional poster for events, $1.25 per copy
teams should contact those two gentlemen to get the details of a fun and glorious tournament. A new venture to access college curling as “club teams” or non-varsity sports is being developed by Gordon McLean (Copper Country Curling Club). Lastly, Nick Kitinski (Hollywood Curling Club) is in charge of helping with the new club inquiries and their formation issues. He didn’t know what he was getting into when I approached him about the job, but his indefatigable energy and love for curling has spread the joy of the sport to the many contacts that he has made and developed. Member Services is also responsible for the stone pool. A total of about 65 sets have been distributed to various clubs. Currently there are 11 sets remaining, with four sets having a con-
ditional request. Along with being the main contact for every kind of inquiry imaginable as director of Member Services, Bev Schroeder handles the stone pool. The U.S. Curling News, the USA Curling website, and Stone Soup e-newsletter, as well as social media outlets (check us out on Facebook and Twitter) keeps one fully advised of all the activities and benefits of the United States Curling Association. Areas such as insurance coverage, officiating, coaching, adaptive curling, elite programs, sports science, athlete recognition, Hall of Fame, corporate sponsorship, media and PR aid, rules, and WCF membership and on and on and on. If you are not taking advantage of any of these benefits, reach out today – we’d love to hear from you.
Certifications Level I Instructor Kirsten Berger Susan Bennett Joby H. Berman Chad Carlson Mark J. Dossett Brenna Duncan Joanne Frazer Gail Harder John H. Hess Daniel Kennedy Asher Luisi Evgenia Lurie
Level II Instructor Chad Carlson Level I Official Joseph Amato Susan Armiger Mark R. Ely Robert Leonard Emily Morris Level II Official Joseph Amato Robert Leonard Mark McElwee
Eight-Enders On Oct. 29, 2010, the Dave Jensen rink scored an eightender in the first round of the Early Bird Bonspiel at the Capital Curling Club, Bismarck, N.D. Curling with Jensen were Roger Smith, Craig Nathan and Jeff Bakken. Have an eight-ender to report? Contact Bev Schroeder at the USA Curling office, 715-344-1199, Ext. 203, beverly.schroeder@usacurl.org.
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Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Simple phrase has so much meaning
By Nancy Seitz, USWCA President president@uswca.org
Good curling. These are the words that start a game, end a rivalry, toast a winner and cheer a loser. A simple phrase that embodies the spirit of the game and the respect for its challenges; two words that are heard on and off the ice in hundreds of clubs throughout the curling year. The time is upon us again when the curling season blossoms with learn-tocurl programs, club competition, interclub “Friendlies” and bonspiels of all descriptions. We all re-discover our passion for the game; for the picture-perfect bump up or the wildly-triumphant
Year-round planning is commenced each fall, bringing pleasure to organizers Plan B, as well as the maddening missed shots. The determination, that this year we will practice more, compete more, and travel to more new bonspiels. For those of us who work on behalf of curling year-round to expand the sport, planning events and strengthening the services that support curlers at all levels, this time of year brings particular pleasure. Much work still needs to be done, but stepping out on the ice with fellow curlers,
Women’s Scots Tour team set to arrive in January by Linda Draper, Incoming Scots Tour Committee
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he Scots Tour team will arrive in the United States in January. Twenty Scottish women selected for this tour from curling clubs throughout Scotland will come to curl against U.S. women in USWCA- member clubs across the country. The Scots will arrive in Boston on Jan. 6 and will start their curling in the Boston area. The opening banquet will be held at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., Jan. 7. The Scot Team will then go on to Cape Cod. From Cape Cod, they will make a lunch stop in Philadelphia and then travel to the Nutmeg Curling Club in Connecticut. The Scot Team will visit Washington, D.C., and curl at the Potomac Curling Club. After their visit to the D.C. area, they will board a plane for Cleveland, where they will curl at both the Cleveland Skating Club and Mayfield Country Club. From Cleveland their bus will take them to Detroit, where they will have their first hotel stay. Up until that point, they will be housed by members of their host clubs. From Detroit, they will travel to the Chicago area and will curl at both Exmoor and the Chicago curling clubs. Milwaukee will host the Scot Team next and then they travel to the Kettle Moraine club. From Kettle, the bus will make its way through Wisconsin to Madison and Portage, where they will curl one game. Their next stop will take them to the Green Bay Curling Club and then into Medford for a lunch
stop following their visit to Green Bay. Next stop will be the Duluth Curling Club and then a stop to enjoy Curl Mesabi’s hospitality. From northern Minnesota, their bus will take them North Dakota where they will be hosted by the Fargo curling club. The bus will return the Scot Team to St. Paul where they will curl the St. Paul and Arden Hill ladies. Of course, they will have a stop at the Mall of America and then board a flight for Seattle. Seattle will host the Scot Team for two games, in addition to the celebrations at the closing banquet, which will be hosted by the Granite Curling Club at the Mill Creek Country Club. Their visit will end on Jan. 31 when they will return to Scotland via Seattle. At each stop the Scottish women will be royally entertained by USWCA member clubs. They will tour cities and towns and will be hosted by local club members. It will be a memorable visit for all who are involved. The Scot Tour was originally started in 1955 when a U.S./Canadian team went to Scotland for the first time. In 1966, a U.S. team traveled to Scotland and a Scot Tour team has been going every 10 years, with the latest U.S. Team traveling to Scotland in 2006. The women are selected from all over Scotland to represent their country, as are the participants who travel from the U.S. Please check the USWCA website at www.uswca.org for the specific dates the Scot Tour will pass through or near your area. The local curlers would be happy to have spectators come watch the games and take part in their local celebrations.
Check out the USWCA website by Nancy Wilhelm, USWCA Public Relations Chairwoman The United States Women’s Curling Association is proud to announce the new look of their website at www.uswca.org. We hope curlers throughout the United States will find it a resource for curling information, events, and a source for net-
working with other clubs. The Mission of the USWCA is to develop, nurture and promote the sport of curling among today’s women and all youth. Our new website is one additional way to provide support to the sport of curling. Please use the “Contact us” page if you have any questions or would like additional information about the USWCA.
there is a heightened sense of purpose and a greater recognition of our shared accomplishments. Curlers are our teammates, our coworkers, our adversaries, but in the end, sharing the sport of curling makes them our friends. Sharing the sport of curling is what it’s all about, and this is a banner year for doing just that in the USWCA. Our new Women’s Circuit is up and running in its debut year. Sold-out again this year, the
Senior Women’s Bonspiel is hosted this year by the Blackhawk Curling Club in Wisconsin. Once each decade, we are able to share our sport with the women of Scotland, when USWCA clubs coast-to-coast host teams during the monthlong Scottish ladies tour. I hope you will read about these and other events in the Curling News and on our www.uswca.org website. This is the time of year for celebration, and I can think of no better place to be than on the ice with my fellow curlers, celebrating good curling!
Quilt raffle to benefit the USWCA Scot Tour by Nancy Wilhelm, USWCA Public Relations Chairwoman A beautiful quilt titled “Galaxy” has been created by the gifted quilter Diane Firari, a past president of the USWCA and member of the 1996 Scot Tour. This lovely quilt is designed to fit any décor, is 72” x 90” and is machine washable. Firari has donated the quilt to the Scot Tour Fund Raising Committee to be raffled as a fund-raiser for the upcoming tour to be held throughout the United States in January. This quilt is being raffled by clubs and members of the USWCA. The fortunate winner of the quilt will be announced at the 2011 National Bonspiel in Cleveland in February. Winner need not be present to win. You may obtain raffle tickets through your club from your USWCA representative. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. For more information, contact Firari at firdi@charter.net.
Lank, George rinks set to represent USA in Japan The Patti Lank and Tyler George teams will represent the U.S. at the 2011 Karuizawa International Championship Jan. 26-30 in Karuizawa, Japan. The Karuizawa International Curling Championship is sponsored annually by the Japan Curling Association in commemoration of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. Karuizawa hosted the curling competition for the 1998 Games, where curling was first contested as a fullmedal Olympic sport. Based on the World Championships in the previous year, the JCA invites five international men’s and five international women’s teams to compete against three Japanese teams in each division. The teams will play in a round robin with the top teams advancing to the semifinals. Playing with Lank, a four-time U.S. champion, are teammates Caitlin Maroldo (Rochester, N.Y.), 2006 Olympian Jessica Schultz (Richfield, Minn.) and Christina Schwartz (Fargo, N.D.). George, the 2010 U.S. national champion, is playing with 2010 Olympian Chris Plys (Duluth, Minn.), 2008 national champion Rich Ruohonen (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and 2010 Olympic men’s coach Phill Drobnick (Duluth, Minn.) at the lead position. Teams had to go through an application process to be considered for this event. The USCA Elite Programs Committee made the final team selections from the applications.
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USA Curling ... Dare to curl
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Applications being accepted for U18 Optimist by Dave Jensen, Chairman, USA Curling Youth Committee
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he Optimist International Club of Canada has invited USA Curling to send three boys’ and three girls’ teams to the Under-18 Championship to be held in Weston, Ontario, Canada, on March 30-April 3 to take part in the 2011 Optimist International U-18 Curling Championships. The event will be held jointly at the St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke and Weston Golf & Country Club. Both venues are less than 20 minutes from Toronto’s Lester Pearson Airport and the two curling clubs are only
Key: O–Open; X–Mixed; XD–Mixed doubles; M–Men’s; W–Women’s; S–Senior; WC–Wheelchair C–Cashspiel; J–Junior; ST–Stick Events are listed Friday through Sunday but some may begin earlier. Check the club’s website for more information. NOV. 26–28 Granite, WA–Cashspiel C St. Paul, MN–Fireball 500 O DEC. 3–5 Alpine, WI M Appleton, WI–Holly Hog X Centerville, WI–Junior Open J Fargo-Moorhead, ND O Granite, WA–Holiday ‘Spiel O Madison, WI–Cashspiel OC Mayfield, OH W Norfolk, CT–Calder Cup M Wausau, WI–Stick ‘Spiel St DEC. 10–12 Columbus, OH–Beers of the World O Detroit, MI–Senior One Day SM Exmoor, IL–Continental M Madison, WI J Marshfield, WI–Green Horn O Rochester, NY O Schenectady, NY–10 & Under M St. Paul, MN–Jack McCann M Stevens Point, WI–Cashspiel C Waupaca, WI SM DEC. 17–19 Curl Mesabi, MN–Cashspiel OC Mankato, MN J DEC. 31–JAN. 2 Charlotte, NC O Grand Forks, ND X Medford, WI–CurlAroundtheClock O 2011 JAN. 7–9 Appleton, WI M Chicago, IL–Gloamin’ W Detroit, MI–International M Duluth, MN–Bruce Bennett M Eau Claire, WI O Fargo-Moorhead, ND X Lodi, WI M Marshfield, WI W Milwaukee, WI X Poynette, WI O St. Paul, MN–Cold Cash W Wausau, WI–Highlanders W JAN. 14–16 Chesapeake, MD–Funspiel O Chicago, IL–International M Clintonville, WI M Duluth, MN–One Day W International Falls, MN O Lake Region, ND O Rice Lake, WI–Steinspiel X Utica, NY–Mitchell M Wausau, WI–State High School J JAN. 21–23 Blackhawk, WI X Capital, ND–Outdoor O Centerville, WI SX Duluth, MN–Bert Payne J Granite, WA X Medford, WI–State Seniors SM North Shore, IL–Lassie W Plainfield, NJ–Thrifty O Portage, WI J The Country Club, MA X Two Harbors, MN M Utica, NY J JAN. 25–26 Exmoor, IL–Highlander W Itasca, MN S JAN. 28–30 Albany, NY–Governor’s Bowl M
six minutes apart. This event is a wonderful opportunity for young teams to participate in an international event that includes teams from the Canadian provinces, Japan and Europe. The Optimists want to emphasize that this event is designed to give young, inexperienced, developing teams a chance to improve their skills in a friendly competition. In addition to the competition and banquet, there is a half-day of training by some of Canada’s top instructors. We encourage all qualifying juniors to put together a U-18 team and complete the application. Applications for the 2011 U-18 Optimist International Curling Championships are due in the USA Curling office by close of business
Arlington, WI M Cleveland, OH–50th Mixed X Fargo-Moorhead, ND O Mankato, MN M Pardeeville, WI –High School J Rice Lake, WI–Badger State W St. Paul, MN–Winter Carnival X The Country Club, MA O Two Harbors, MN O Waupaca, WI M FEB. 4–6 Alpine, WI X Centerville, WI W Clintonville, WI X Detroit, MI–One Day W Granite, WA W Kettle Moraine, WI SX Milwaukee, WI M Minot, ND–Winter Fling X Nashua, NH–Queen of Hearts W Norfolk, CT–Warm Hearts X Pardeeville, WI–Watermelon O St. Paul, MN–Ranger X Wausau, WI–Badger State MWJ FEB. 10–13 Centerville, WI X Cleveland, OH–USWCA Nat. W Itasca, MN–Sweethearts X Lakes, MN–Vern Turner O Marshfield, WI M Medford, WI–State HS J Racine, WI X Rice Lake, WI M Rochester, NY M St. Paul, MN–Kyle Satrom J The Country Club, MA M Wausau, WI M FEB. 18–20 Belfast, ME–Little Int. M Copper Country, MI O Detroit, MI X Duluth, MN–International MW Grand Forks, ND W Green Bay, WI M Heather, MN M Lake Region, ND–Bantam J Medford, WI–Snowflake W Plainfield, NJ J Portage, WI–Badger Senior SW Utica, NY–Cobb X Wauwatosa, WI O FEB. 25–27 Centerville, WI M Chicago, IL X Grand Forks, ND–Can Am J Heather, MN W Kettle Moraine, WI X Lewiston, MI MWX Madison, WI–Curl v. Cancer O Mayfield, OH X Norfolk, CT W Pardeeville, WI–Red Baron M Potomac, MD–Kayser X St. Paul, MN M Utica, NY–College JO Wausau, WI–Silver Spoon O MARCH 4–6 Albany, NY–TAM O Appleton, WI–The Stick St Bemidji, MN–Paul Bunyan M Chesapeake, MD–GNCC Sr. SX Grafton, ND W Kettle Moraine, WI J Marshfield, WI–Lobstein X Nashua, NH M Pardeeville, WI O Plainfield, NJ–Stone M Poynette, WI O Schenectady, NY J Tri-City, WI M Vikingland, MN–Runestone O MARCH 11–13 Centerville, WI–Fun ‘Spiel O
Dec. 31, 2010. Mail all applications to the attention of Bev Schroeder at USA Curling, 5525 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482. Applications and additional information and requirements are available on the USA Curling web site, www.usacurl.org/usacurl. The Optimist International Club requires that all players must be 17 years of age or younger as of Dec. 31, 2010. Each participating team will represent their state/region and all players on the team must reside in the same state/region. Each state/region may be represented by no more than one male and one female team. The Optimist International requests that each team be accom-
Columbus, OH–Wines W Duluth, MN–Dunlop X Grafton, ND M Green Bay, WI–Shamrock W Heather, MN X Lake Region, ND SWM Norfolk, CT–Elisabeth Childs W Pardeeville, WI–HS Alumni O Schenectady, NY–Gordon Em. M Wauwatosa, WI M MARCH 18–20 Belfast, ME–Woods Family O Centerville, WI SM Curl Mesabi, MN–Springspiel M Grand Forks, ND M Granite, WA–Jr. Novice J Green Bay, WI J Heather, MN–Teen ‘Spiel J Kettle Moraine, WI M Lodi, WI X Nutmeg, CT–Golden Handle O Stevens Point, WI M MARCH 25–27 Aksarben, NE–Irish Open O Arlington, WI SM Blackhawk, WI–Last Chance M Duluth, MN–House of Hearts O Grafton, ND X Itasca, MN–Second to Last O Minot, ND–Shirtsleeve O Pardeeville, WI–Spring Fling O Potomac, MD–Cherry Blossom O Two Harbors, MN X APRIL 1–3 Fairbanks, AK–International MW Granite, WA–April Open O Green Bay, WI–Funspiel X Lake Region, ND X Mankato, MN–Bunny X Stevens Point, WI X APRIL 8–10 Hibbing, MN–Last Chance M Plainfield, NJ–Bonsqueal O Poynette, WI O APRIL 15–17 Coyotes, AZ–Desert Ice O Evergreen, OR O APRIL 24–26 Broadmoor, CO O APRIL 24–May 1 At Sea, Caribbean–Waterspiel O MAY 6–8 Park City, UT–Rocky Mtn. O MAY 20–22 Poynette, WI O MAY 27–29 Hollywood, C–Blockbuster O San Francisco, CA O JUNE 3–5 Great Smoky, TN O JUNE 10–12 Granite, WA O JULY 7–10 Cape Cod, MA–Summerspiel X JULY 10–13 Cape Cod, MA–Summerspiel W JULY 14–17 Cape Cod, MA–Summerspiel M Green Bay, WI–Tailgate O JULY 21–24 Cape Cod, MA–Summerspiel Wc Capital, ND–Summerspiel O AUG. 5–7 Green Bay, WI–Senior Men’s SM Triangle, NC–Carolina Classic O AUG. 26–28 Rice Lake, WI–Summerspiel O
Don’t see your event listed or it’s listed incorrectly? Send bonspiel dates and corrections to Terry Kolesar, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org
panied by a Level II or higher coach that is 21 years of age or older. The USA Curling U-18 Selection Committee selects states/regions to send teams based upon the merits of the applications received. State/regions will be notified of the selection by Jan. 18, 2011. If applications from more than one qualified team in a state/region are received, a playdown event within that state or region must take place by Feb. 22, 2010. Teams are responsible for travel costs and some meals. Hotel costs are paid by the Optimist International Club for four players and a coach. If the team elects to bring a fifth player, their expenses must be paid in full by the team.
16th Annual Top 10 Shakespearian Quotations on the Roarin’ Game 10] The more it shap’d unto my end of stealing. [Cymbeline, Act v, sc. 5, l. 348] 9] My lord, it is too long. [A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Act v, sc. 1, l. 63] 8] For this will out, and then I must not stay. [Richard III, Act i, sc. 4, l. 286] 7] Come short of what he did. [Hamlet, Act iv, sc. 7, l. 90] 6] The skillful shepherd peeled me certain. [The Merchant of Venice, Act i, sc. 3, l. 81] 5] But they have a good cover. [Much Ado About Nothing, Act i, sc. 2, l. 6] 4] I would it might be hangers. [Hamlet, Act v, sc. 2, l. 158] 3] Now on the beak. [The Tempest, Act i, sc. 2, l. 196] 2] Love me or love me not, I like the cap, and it I will have, or I will have none. [The Taming of the Shrew, Act iv, sc. 3, l. 84] 1] A solemn combination shall be made. [Twelfth Night, Act v, sc. 1, l. 380] – Richard Maskel
Clinics Several officiating clinics are planned this fall and winter. Organizers can download the 2010-11 Officiating Manual, which is posted online at www.usacurl.org/goodcurling. If you’re interested in finding out more about the classes, send an email to the contacts below or to Bev Schroeder at the USA Curling office, 715-344-1199, Ext. 203, or via email at beverly.schroeder@usacurl.org. Rochester, N.Y. The Rochester Curling Club will host a Level I/II officiating course at the curling club on Dec. 5. The Level I course will begin at 8:30 a.m. Contact John Yarowski for more information, johnbob@rochester.rr.com. Philadelphia, Pa. The Philadelphia Curling Club will host a Level I officiating course on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. Contact Wayne Anderson via email at wca@mvpcap.com to register or learn more. Cost is $15. Seattle, Wash. The Granite Curling Club in Seattle will host a Level I and II officiating clinic on Dec. 11. Cost is $15. To register or for more information, contact Joe Roberts via email at jvroberts@gmail.com. St. Paul, Minn. The St. Paul Curling Club will host a Level I and II officiating clinic March 19-20. Cost is $15 per course. For more information, contact Erik Ordway via email at jeordway@gmail.com.
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
College Curling Students continue to curl beyond academic careers by Rich Larko, College Tournament Coordinator
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n the last issue we talked about graduates of Northwestern University settling in areas with nearby curling clubs. Now two more students report accepting jobs, in Portland, Ore., and Minneapolis. This brings the number to 10 of the original Northwestern student/ curlers who have settled into their careers in areas where they continue to curl. Eight of these students never saw a curling stone before they began to play in the college program, with several of them coming from the southern U.S. Previous Northwestern grads are curling at Plainfield, Midland, Madison, Milwaukee and Denver. That’s more proof that college curling contributes to new dues-paying curlers
to the wonderful world of curling. The college curling season gets into full swing this winter. A regional event will take place Jan. 29-31 at the Bowling Green Curling Club in Ohio. We thank the BGSU Curling Club for hosting their regional championship event. As this is being written 16 teams are preparing to “get on the ice and play.” We’ll report results of the event in the next issue of the Curling News. In 1986 a small group of Illinois curlers, with support and backing by the Chicago Community Trust, formed a corporation and launched the National College Curling Program to provide quality instruction and competition for college students all over America. We saw that this age group had been virtually ignored by both regular curling clubs as well as various curling associations all across America.
After producing various brochures and a quality video for use by clubs and curlers alike, we also approached various schools to attempt to find faculty members who would help us. With little student demand at the time we made almost no progress securing school participation. Therefore, in 1992, we announced the inaugural National College Curling Championship event in Eau Claire, Wis. Five teams from four schools participated and had a great time and good competition. The event was won by a team from Eau Claire (it’s hard to beat the home club). A team and faculty member from Wauwatosa loved the concept and in 1993 we moved to the more centrally-located Wauwatosa Curling Club with 14 teams and more schools as the event caught on. After several years the event was moved to the larger
Dues and rosters deadline: Jan. 31 by Sandy Robinson, USA Curling
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SA Curling is again using e-mail to distribute our packet of information for filing membership rosters and submitting USA Curling dues for 2010-11. These notices are being sent to club and region treasurers, or to another officer if we lacked an e-mail address for the treasurer. The USA Curling roster and dues materials will also be available on our website at www.usacurl.org. The web announcement also will have information about prizes for submitting dues and rosters and completing our annual diversity survey by Jan. 31. Does your club start its season in the spring or summer? New this year, the deadline for roster reporting for clubs that begin their operations in the spring or
summer is Sept. 30 of that year. Because the rosters determined during the spring and summer carry the club through the next USA Curling season, dues payments will be based on that Sept. 30 membership. In concrete terms, here’s how it will work: This season the rosters on file as of Sept. 30, 2010, will be the clubs’ membership through the 2010-11 season, and will be the basis for the dues they submit by Jan. 31, 2011. Next season the rosters reported by Sept. 30, 2011, will be their membership for 2011-12, with a dues deadline of Jan. 31, 2012. If you operate spring or spring/summer clubs, notify Christy Hering at the USA Curling office if you will be following the Sept. 30 reporting schedule. She can be contacted at 1-888-2875377, Ext. 207, or via e-mail at christy.hering@usacurl.org. Our goal is to have an align-
The Funny Side
ment of membership and dues that reflects the most current roster and best meets the needs of our clubs and of USA Curling. We are asking all clubs to update their rosters online using USA Curling’s web database, www.associationdata.com. Please let us know if you need assistance at any stage of the filing process by contacting Hering by using the information above. A note for those updating via uploads: The file must be uploaded from the USA Curling office, so be sure to send your upload file to Hering via e-mail. The USCA Membership Database has been designed and built with the assistance of USA Curling sponsor Kodiak Technology Group, and will continue to evolve to meet the needs of our organization and members. Your suggestions for improvements to the database are welcome.
Madison Curling Club with six-sheet capacity. After several years in Madison, we again moved to a larger facility, the St. Paul Curling Club. By now the event was thriving with as many as 32 teams from all over curling land participating each year. After several years we again moved the event to the North Shore and Chicago Curling Clubs, located near each other in the northern suburbs of Chicago, where it has now grown to as many as 40 teams from 30 schools including Harvard, MIT and Boston College in the east, the University of Washington on the West Coast, Lake Superior College in the north, and down south to the University of Tennessee. In the 20 years of the event we have seen more than 600 student-teams from more than 130 schools participate in the tournament. Members of approxi-
mately 35 clubs have volunteered to work with student curlers. Clubs in six different cities have provided countless weekends for many years to host college championship events. In addition, we have sponsored countless regional events all across the country (to help save travel costs for teams). The names of hundreds of people who have volunteered their time and efforts to the College Curling cause are far too numerous to mention with the exception of our registrar and administrator, Dr. Robert Richardson of La Crosse, Wis., and Pam Oleinik of Brookfield, Wis., the “keeper” of our website for many years, as well as the directors of College Curling USA – the Illinois State Curling Foundation (Current directors: Steuart Tray, Phillip “Pete” Bowm, Art Helt, Ken Cooke and Scott Rahn).
COLLEGE TOURNEY Continued From Page 1
All teams compete with other teams at a similar level to ensure a great experience. The registrar for the event will once again be Robert Richardson. You can send entries to him, Richards.rob2@uwlax.edu or by regular mail at 3374 East Ave., La Crosse, WI 54601-7208. You can also contact him via telephone at 608-788-0595 if you have any questions. More information about the tournament also is posted online at www.collegecurling.org. The headquarters hotel for the tournament will be the Courtyards of Marriott Glenview. A guaranteed rate of $69 (plus tax) will be available for competitors. The rate is good until March 1 so make your reservations soon. Be sure to tell the hotel desk clerk that your team is part of the college curling event to get the room rate. The hotel address is 1801 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, IL 60025 (847-803-2500). The future of the college tournament is uncertain. We started the college program 25 years ago in conjunction with the Chicago Community Trust, which provided much of our funding through the years. Now our main source of funding may make it impossible to continue the tournament after 2011. We continue to work on our funding challenge and will keep you apprised on our website and in the Curling News. We sincerely hope to continue to sponsor the college curling program and hope to continue the national tournament in the future.
Drake University students looking for equipment donations Drake University Curling Club recently formed as the first and only curling club in the state of Iowa. According to the club’s founder, John Maher, students have been practicing, but they’re in need of equipment.
“We had about 32 students at our last practice so we’re very excited,” he said. Clubs with extra brooms or other equipment can make a donation to Drake University by contacting Maher at john.maher@drake.edu.
Curling News Detroit celebrates 125th anniversary
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
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ngus MacTavish, longtime historian of the Detroit Curling Club, reports the club enjoyed a party on Oct. 23 to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Paul and Sue Szmigiel hosted about 150 people. Club president Duke Grimshaw was master of ceremonies. A photo montage of pictures taken at the club over the years was compiled by Fred Zosel. Pictures of the people at the event can be found at www.sgriccia.net/dcc125party. MacTavish describes the long history of curling in Detroit: “The first recorded curling club in the Detroit area and in the USA was the Orchard Lake Curling Club in the 1831-32 season. The earliest record of curling within the city of Detroit was 1836-37 on the Detroit River. In 1838 there was a curling club formed by the employees of the Detroit & Mackinac Railway. During the 1850s and 1860s, a Detroit Curling Club existed, but unrelated to the current club. In 1867 (according to the Grand
Tales From Sheet Nine
David Garber, dj.garber@charter.net
National’s annals) the Detroit area boasted three clubs – Orchard Lake, The Thistle and The Granite. “The current Detroit Curling Club was founded in 1885, and incorporated in 1889 when it built
Broomstones to host 2011 USA Curling Senior Men’s Nationals What: 2011 U.S. Senior Men’s Championships; winners advance to the 2011 World Senior Championships in St. Paul, Minn. When: Feb. 2-6, 2011 Where: Broomstones Curling Club, Wayland, Mass. Website: www.broomstones.com Host club contact: John Wilson, johnwilsonjsw@comcast.net
The USWCA Circuit Event Compete in Women’s Bonspiels and Earn Points for Area and National Cash Awards! Learn about The Circuit: • How you can compete in The Circuit in Women’s Bonspiels in all Areas of the USWCA! • How your club's Women's Bonspiel can become part of The Circuit! Register your Club’s Bonspiel for Increased Participation! Register yourself as a Circuit Participant!
www.uswca.org Click on “USWCA Circuit Event” on the Home Page
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
UNITED STATES
its first shed. The club had the following locations throughout the years: • 1885 on the property of the Detroit Athletic Club at Canfield and Cass. • 1889 the club purchased land at Fourth Avenue and Gold. • 1891 a clubhouse was built at Fourth and Forest avenues. • 1895 property was purchased at Sixth and Forest, but curling continued at Fourth Avenue. • 1897 the building was moved from Fourth to Sixth Avenue. The club hosted its first Men’s International Bonspiel, which is held each January to this day. • 1924 a mechanical ice machine was installed, perhaps the first artificial curling ice at a club in the USA(?). Six sheets of ice. • 1979 the club moved to West Bloomfield, a northwest suburb, to a six-sheet arena, the site of the 1989 USCA nationals. • 1999 through 2001, DCC members curled on ice at the Roseland Arena in Windsor, Ontario. The
International Bonspiels were held at Tilbury (1999, 2000) and Roseland (2001). • 2002 curling began and continues at the current location in Ferndale, a suburb just north of Detroit. Angus MacTavish is the alterego/secret identity of David Sgriccia, who has tirelessly promoted his club since he started curling in 1979. The club has produced several USCA national champions, Hall of Fame members, presidents and directors (including current director Paul Badgero). Men’s Scotland Tour 2012 A reminder to men who may be interested in applying for the 2012 Men’s Scotland Tour Team: be sure to review application materials in this U.S. Curling News and on the www.usacurl.org/usacurl. There you will find A True History (a pdf file) which will provide a flavor of the life of a Tourist. Diplomatic work is tough, the Tour is no exception—something you do for curling and country. Well, maybe it is terrific fun as well!
Junior competition grants offered by TCCA by Christine Jensen, Twin Cities Curling Association 14-year-old curler: Curling is great! I hang out with my friends at the club, and play in local junior bonspiels where I get to see all my friends. Sometimes the competition is tough, and sometimes it’s a great place to be a new curler. But wouldn’t it be cool to be an Olympic curler? Or win the national championship? It sure was hard at my first state tournament. How did those other teams get so good? And what do I need to do to beat them? What does it take to put the best U.S. curlers on the ice? While there are many layers of detail to this question, everyone can agree that practice and good competition are keys to improving skills at any level. For junior curlers in particular, getting the competitive exposure can be challenging. To help with this challenge, the Twin Cities Curling Association is pleased to announce a new grant program to help offset the costs of competing with world-class teams. For the 2011-12 season, TCCA will offer up to 20 grants for bonspiel entry fees and expenses for junior teams. Grants will be awarded on the basis of competitive history, building on the success of the equipment program generously supported by Goldline for the past four years. Past winners of the equipment sponsorship have qualified for every U.S. Junior National Championship since. “Competing in Canada was key to honing our team’s skills,” said Alex Carlson, who won the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Junior National Championships and bronze at the 2010 World Junior Championship. “Entry fees alone can be
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more than $500, and that doesn’t include travel and other expenses. We had a chance to compete against the best teams in Canada, and it really helped us improve our skills.” Derrick McLean, vice skip on the men’s 2010 Junior World team (and recipient of the 2010 TCCA equipment grant) agrees: “World Curling Tour events are rarely in your backyard: that means food, hotel, and travel all on top of the entry fee. If we want U.S. curling to improve, our juniors are where we need to focus our energy.” TCCA is a group organized to promote the growth of curling, and has developed a particular focus on helping competitive junior curlers. As a 501(c)3 organization, donations to TCCA are tax-deductible. Seed money is in place to start this important program, but additional donations are needed to fully fund the grants. To help promote competitive junior curling in the United States, please join others in funding this new TCCA effort. Information on how to make your tax-deductible contribution to the Junior Competitive Grant Program can be found at www.tcca.org. Details on the grant application process will be available at the end of the 201011 season. Recipients of the 2010-11 Goldline equipment include: Junior men’s team recipients include the Stephen Dropkin rink of Massachusetts and the Evan Workin rink of North Dakota. Junior women’s winners include the Cory Christensen rink of Minnesota and the MacKenzie Lank rink of North Dakota. For more information, contact Ken Olson (ken.olson@liesch.com) or Christine Jensen (c_jensen651@hotmail.com).
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Curling News UNITED STATES
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
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Morton rink set to represent USA in Turkey
Wisconsin’s Blake Morton team will represent the U.S. at the 2011 Winter World University Games in Turkey. Team members include (l-r) Blake Morton, Marcus Fonger, Tommy Juszczyk and Calvin Weber.
by Terry Kolesar, Editor
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niversity of WisconsinMadison student Blake Morton (McFarland, Wis.) and his team of Madison-area students will represent the United States at the 2011 Winter World University Games in January in Turkey. Morton, 19, and teammates Marcus Fonger (Cottage Grove, Wis.), Tommy Juszczyk (McFarland, Wis.) and Calvin Weber (McFarland, Wis.) earned the right by defeating Aanders Brorson’s team from Minnesota, 7-4, in a sudden-death playoff Nov. 14 at the selection event held at the FargoMoorhead Curling Club in Fargo, N.D. “We are all very excited for the opportunity to represent the USA at this event,” Juszczyk said. “We’ve been looking forward to playing down for this event for years, and it seems surreal that we were first researching it so many years ago in a high school computer class, and now we are actually going. We look forward to representing the United States and United States Curling the best way possible, and we plan to work hard and prepare for our competition.” Morton’s team will be a part of Team USA for the winter version of the World University Games, Jan. 27Feb. 6, in Erzurum, Turkey, pending formal approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee. This will be the fourth time curling will be featured in the WWUG as a medal sport. The U.S. men won gold in 2007 in Pinerolo, Italy. Morton and Weber attend UW-Madison while Fonger is a biology student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Juszczyk is studying computer science at Madison Area Technical College. Brorson, 22, and teammates Aaron Tasa (Bemidji,
Minn.), John Landsteiner (Duluth, Minn.) and Joel Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.) never led in the match, falling behind quickly 0-3 after two ends of play. The teams exchanged singles over the next two ends, with Brorson’s Minnesota team pulling within a point after scoring a deuce in the fifth end. Morton led his team to a key score in the seventh as they added three points to the scoreboard. After being held to a single in the eighth, Brorson, the 2008 world junior champion, conceded the match to Morton shortly thereafter. Morton’s team has played together for several years at the junior ranks. They won the 2010 Wisconsin Junior Men’s Championship and have twice competed at the U.S. Junior Nationals, earning the bronze in 2009. Last year, the team was the youngest in the field at the
2011 WWUG Selection Event Standings, after double round robin: Brorson 4-2 Morton 4-2 Working 2-3 Stevens 1-4 Final: Brorson 001 020 01x x 7 *Morton 120 100 30x x 4 *last rock in first end
U.S. Men’s National Championship, where they qualified to the 10-team tournament through a very competitive field. “Playing in a few national competitions over the past two years has made our team eager to represent the USA, and we are really happy we finally have that opportunity,” Morton said. “We have never had the opportunity to fly to any of our events, so we are really excited to finally have a trip overseas.”
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
St. Paul ready to host World Senior, Mixed Doubles Championship
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he eight-sheet St. Paul Curling Club is set to host the 2011 World Senior Championships as well as the 2011 World Mixed Doubles Championship April 16-23 in St. Paul, Minn. The club will mark its 100th year next season and club members look forward to showing off their worldclass facility to world competitors and fans. Please mark your calendars to the dates above to attend the competition, which will be nonstop for seven days. If you’ve never seen mixed doubles in action, the world event will be a great opportunity to see some of the best competitors slide, throw and quickly stand up to sweep down the ice – an art in itself! Two great events like these, however, require a lot of volunteer help in many different areas. Past club president Mike O’Neil chairs the host committee. Mike and the host committee, made up of many other dedicated club members, have been meeting regularly since last May to plan and ensure a successful week of curling and hospitality. Contact Mike directly (mocurl59@gmail.com) or use the links on the homepage of the event website (www.2011worldcurling.co
m) if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, volunteering or general information. The World Senior Championships began in 2002 in Bismarck, N.D., and have grown significantly over the years. The U.S. teams for this year’s event will be determined in February at senior national competitions – the men’s will take place Feb. 2-6 at Broomstones in Wayland, Mass., with the women’s event being hosted at the Grand Forks Curling Club Feb. 3-6. Last year, Paul Pustovar’s team from Hibbing, Minn., captured just the second U.S. gold medal at the World Seniors when they defeated Canada, 4-3, in Chelyabinsk, Russia. The women’s gold medal was won by Canada, with the U.S. team, skipped by Seattle’s Sharon Vukich, finishing fourth after losing a close match in the bronzemedal game to Sweden. The Canadian men and women lead the way with six world senior championships apiece overall. The
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CURLS FOR CURLING
Visit any of our loc and enjoy our Sign Taster Curl with six 3 oz. servings of our most popular Craft-Brewed Beers. A portion of proceeds from every Taster Curl goes to USA Curling.
U.S. men have won two gold medals, five silver medals and one bronze, while the U.S. ladies have captured the bronze medal three times. The World Mixed Doubles is the newest of the World Curling Federation’s events, with its inaugural championship being hosted in 2008 in Finland. The best U.S. finish so far has been 10th, which Seattle’s Sharon Vukich and Mike Calcagno posted this spring in Russia. Switzerland won the first two years, with Russia earning the gold in 2010. The U.S. entrants for the 2011 world championship will be determined Dec. 912 at the Duluth (Minn.) Curling Club. Twenty teams are set to compete to earn the berth, including former champions from Seattle – Cristin and Brady Clark, as well as the defending champions Vukich and Calcagno. Mixed doubles varies a bit from traditional curling, featuring two players (one male, one female) per team as opposed to the traditional four-person curling teams. Each game consists of eight ends instead of 10, which is traditional to national, world and Olympic championships. Each team delivers five stones per end, with one
player delivering the first and fifth stones and the other team member throwing the stones in between. Prior to the start of each end, one team shall instruct the game umpire to place their team’s stationary stone and the opposing team’s stationary stone either as a guard outside the house bisecting the center line or on the back half of the button. Sweeping is allowed but with just two players that means either the thrower will sweep their own stone or the other team member will leave the house to sweep. Mixed doubles guarantees that each end is full of rocks and exciting shot-making attempts. In addition to the competition on the ice, this is a great social event. The club will be a center of activity, along with the hospitality suite at the host hotel. Other exciting events are planned throughout the week. You won’t want to miss it! Tickets for the competition will be available on the website soon. The host committee and members of the St. Paul Curling Club hope you’ll join them in April for this world-class curling event! Visit our website at www.2011worldcurling.com for all of the latest information.
USA teams set to compete at 2011 Deaflympics by Sheila Longie, Adaptive Curling Committee Team USA’s deaf curling teams are busy preparing to compete in the 17th Winter Deaflympics in Vysoke Tatry, Slovakia, Feb. 18-26. Men’s team members include Herman Fuechtmann, Calvin Rausch, Steve Townshend, Steve Hubmer and David Nathanson. Joey Bata is the coach. All five players and the coach are members of the St. Paul Curling Club. Members of the women’s team are Liz Matthews, Karen Officer, JoDee DikeJohnson, Rebecca Farovitch and Allison Gibbons. Matthews is a member of the St. Paul Curling Club. Officer, Dike-Johnson and Gibbons are members of the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club, while Farovitch lives in Tucson, Ariz. Sheila Longie, a member of the St. Paul Curling Club, is the coach. Officer and Dike-Johnson also competed at the 2010 USA Curling National Championships in Kalamazoo. Fuechtmann and Rausch were members of the 2007 Deaflympics team that took silver in Salt Lake City. Matthews, Officer and Dike-Johnson also competed in the 2007 Deaflympics and also stepped onto the podium to accept silver medals. The women added to their medal collection in Winnipeg last year when they won silver in the World Deaf Curling Championship.
ACF&M donations accepted
We are known superior quali medal winning beers, gracious hospitality and friendly prices!
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8 888 $#10554 $0. rFIND 88 $#10554 $0. rFI N D U USS IIN NC COLORADO• O LO R A D O•
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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.
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Curling News UNITED STATES
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
11
Got questions or ideas but don’t know who to contact? USA Curling’s Board of Directors consists of 28 members. The number of directors per region is based on size (please see the USA Curling bylaws for more information). Bylaws are posted on the USA Curling website at www.usacurl.org/goodcurling. A minimum of 20 percent of all directors shall be athlete representatives. Feel free to reach out to your local regional representative to the USA Curling Board of Director’s listed below:
Attendees of the “Train Like An Olympian” clinic at the Nutmeg Curling Club got a little help from some curlers with notoriety – 2010 Olympians Chris Plys (alternate) and Phill Drobnick (men’s head coach) and Caitlin Maroldo, who has competed in numerous National Championships. Photo submitted by Nutmeg Curling Club
‘Train Like an Olympian’ clinic helps curlers advance skills with practice drills
O
n Oct. 2-3 curlers from the Grand National region participated in the Nutmeg Curling Club’s “Train Like an Olympian” clinic instructed by Phill Drobnick, 2010 U.S. Men’s Olympic coach; 2010 Olympian Chris Plys; and Caitlin Maroldo, two-time U.S. Women’s Nationals runner–up. Curlers had a choice of individual or team training sessions or both. The focus of the clinic was to help curlers develop a training program and practice approach that will continue to improve their shotmaking skills, help them to identify their curling weaknesses and strengths, and how to work as a team. Curlers came away with a series of core practice drills used by the U.S. Men’s Olympic team to help structure individual or team practice. The team clinics included on-ice practice drills along with a Powerpoint presentation and discussion led by Drobnick and Maroldo that introduced curlers to key elements for season preparation, including: goal setting, assembling and positioning a team, mental preparedness, working with a coach and other topics. Students were given skill-shot handouts and individual skill set evaluation worksheets. “Learning the twenty different skill shots was nice. Having them on paper and in my e-mail is a plus. I will definitely use/practice them. Also, learning hog-tohog timing, and how important that is, will help our team to get all our takeout weights on the same page,” said Richard Gonyeau of the Schenectady Curling Club. Katie Wiktorski, a junior curler from the Petersham Curling Club said: “The individual training session was very helpful. It gave me ideas on how to train when I am alone. The training activities are going to be very useful in accuracy and repetition. Also, the skill shots are great to have in hand. I plan on using every bit of information that was given to me. This was such a great clinic, it was hard to leave!” Drobnick brought first-hand experience on how to keep practices from becoming boring and to stay focused on the practice goal you have set for yourself or your team. Maroldo shared her experiences in competing in the Olympic Trials and National Championships and the impor-
tance of mental preparedness, simple ways to help keep teammates focused when the game is not going your way, and the importance of having a game plan. Groups alternated from sheet-to-sheet with the instructors providing specific on-ice skill sessions offering curlers individual instruction and the opportunity to ask specific questions. Students were given skill-shot handouts and individual skill-set evaluation forms. “I loved their ideas for practice sessions. I have already started using the ideas in practice. The time on the ice was used well and with some great instruction. The instructors were all very approachable and very enthusiastic,” said Nadia Leslie from the Nutmeg Curling Club. On Friday evening, Drobnick and Plys presented an informal talk about the Olympic curling experience followed by a question-and-answer period. Attendees received first-hand accounting of the excitement of the opening ceremonies to the challenges the U.S. men’s curling team faced in the Olympics. “Thanks Phill, Chris and Caitlin for partnering in this clinic and to the curlers who attended making this possible,” said Joel Leneker, president of the Nutmeg Curling Club. “This is just one opportunity for curlers on the East Coast to learn from some of the best USCA curlers with more to follow.” The “Train Like an Olympian” clinic was part of the Nutmeg Curling Club’s pre-season training program that offered practice ice to all GNCC curlers from Sept.10-Oct. 1, as well as a practice venue for the wheelchair athletes in preparation for the September U.S. Wheelchair Team Tryouts in Wisconsin; the Junior/Adult Early Ice Invitational, giving junior teams an opportunity to play some of the best GNCC club teams in a round robin format organized by Mark Mooney; and the Nutmeg Fall Blazing Leaves Open Bonspiel. Plans are being made to offer future clinics focusing on strategy, physical fitness, sports psychology and nutrition. Please contact Joel Leneker at Jleneker@aol.com to be included in future notices of upcoming clinics or to suggest clinic topics.
Alaska: Leland Rich Fairbanks Curling Club Cell: 907-388-1058 leland@ecsalaska.com At-Large/Colorado/ Nebraska: Jonathan Havercroft Oklahoma Curling Club Cell: 405-370-3854 jonathan.havercroft@gmail.com Grand National: Gwen Krailo Nashua Curling Club Cell: 603-620-9012 gwenk@nashuafoundries.com Bob Pelletier Potomac Curling Club Cell: 443-668-1902 robepelleti@aol.com Sam Williams Cell: 978-621-5988 sam_williams@comcast.net Great Lakes: Paul Badgero Detroit Curling Club Home: 248-620-5651 buttercup3314872@aol.com Gordon Maclean Copper Country Curling Club Cell: 906-370-0365 president@coppercountrycurlingclub.com Illinois:
Sean Silver Exmoor Curling Club Cell: 312-636-9028 sean.silver@baml.com
Minnesota: Kent Beadle St. Paul Curling Club Cell: 651-491-2119 kbeadle@countryhedging.com Nancy Haggenmiller Vikingland Curling Club Cell: 218-639-1764 haggs@midwestinfo.com Cyndee Johnson Duluth Curling Club Home: 218-628-3072 cjjgolfs@aol.com Mountain Pacific: Jerome Larson Wine Country Curling Club Cell: 707-673-6023 jlcurler@frontiernet.net North Dakota: Jan Legacie Lake Region Curling Club Cell: 701-351-0506 jlegacie@nd.gov Chris Sjue Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club Cell: 701-471-1707 csjue@cableone.net
Lynita Delaney Centerville Curling Club 608-534-6456 ilhrlynita@aol.com Mark Swandby Madison Curling Club Cell: 608-698-1647 swandby@engr.wisc.edu Athletes: Craig Brown Madison Curling Club Cell: 608-347-1691 curlingcraig@yahoo.com Maureen Clark St. Paul Curling Club Cell: 612-803-8509 maureen.clark10@gmail.com Dean Gemmell Plainfield Curling Club Cell: 862-216-6096 dgemmell@thecurlingshow.com Nicole Joraanstad Madison Curling Club Cell: 608-576-9229 niccurl@tds.net Richard Maskel Green Bay Curling Club Home: 920-498-0204 negative-ice@att.net Ann Swisshelm Exmoor Curling Club Cell: 708-702-7800 curlannie@mac.com Board elected: Jack Bernauer Chicago Curling Club Home: 847-202-9301 jbernauer1@sbcglobal.net Beau Welling Palmetto Curling Club Cell: 828-243-3252 bw@beauwellingdesign.com U.S. Women’s Curling Association representative: Janet Farr Dallas-Fort Worth Curling Club Cell: 972-369-9220 jfarr103@sbcglobal.net World Curling Federation representative: Peggy Hatch Philadelphia Curling Club Home: 215-627-9103 phatch@napco.com *voice, but no vote (Swandby, Welling, Rich also are WCF representatives) Executives: President: Chris Sjue
Washington: James Pleasants Granite Curling Club Cell: 425-894-1269 jimpleasants@comcast.net
Vice Presidents: Kent Beadle David Carlson Jerome Larson Jim Pleasants
Wisconsin: David Carlson Portage Curling Club Home: 608-742-3049 drcportagewi@frontier.com
Treasurer: Jack Bernauer Secretary: Bob Pelletier
12
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Make plans to head to Fargo in February by Amelia Young & Kali Mork Event Co-Chairs, 2011 National Championships
TICKET INFORMATION: Club Seat Full Tournament Package: $179 • Considered a premium seat at Scheels Arena, club seats are bar stools situated at a granite countertop along the top of the lower bowl ringing the arena. One of the only locations in the building where hard liquor is allowed in addition to beer and wine, club seats ticket holders receive complimentary dry snacks and in-seat beverage service.
G
reetings from the Fargo-Moorhead community! On behalf of the host organizing committee for the 2011 USA Curling National Championships, we would like to take this opportunity to officially invite you to this year’s men’s and women’s national championships Feb. 12-19. Our entire community is very much looking forward to hosting you, your friends and your family in our wonderful cities during this prestigious eight-day tournament. With a population of more than 200,000, the Fargo-Moorhead community is able to afford visitors to our hometown all the amenities of a large metropolis as well as the warmth and friendliness of a small town. We believe you’ll find your stay with us both entertaining and relaxing as our community embraces the tournament and you as our guests. We hope you will be able to join us at the championships in some capacity – as a fan, a participant or a
A view of the bowl at Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D., site of the 2011 USA Curling National Championships. Photo courtesy of Scheels Arena
volunteer. You can learn more about these opportunities on our website at www.2011usacurlingnationals.com. The website is overflowing with information on the championship itself as well as the headquarters hotel and the community in general. Here you can also find out about full tournament ticket packages, which are now available, as well as volunteer opportu-
nities. We are very excited to host this elite curling tournament and also those of you who choose to join us during it. If you have questions in regard to any facet of the championships – tickets, volunteering, hotel information – please do not hesitate to contact Kali at 701-356-4349 or kalim@upcenterfargo.org. We look forward to see-
ing you in Fargo in February!
Ice is ready for Mixed competitors
J
ust looking at the ice Midland Curling Club members know that it is a special season ahead. In-ice logos of corporate sponsors and USA Curling herald the 2011 Mixed National Championship March 19-26. “This is the first time we have hosted a national championship curling event in Midland,” said event chairman John Zimmerman. “We’ll have 10 teams representing the very best mixed curlers from across the United States, from Alaska to the East Coast. Midland teams will compete in the Great Lakes regional playdowns trying to qualify for the championships.” Midland Curling Club members have been organizing since last March to host the championship event. “Like most of our league play and events throughout the season, all the planning and implementation of this event will be done by Midland Curling Club volunteers. The United States Curling Association will appoint the head officials. Our volunteers, with help from community volunteers and from other clubs in the region, will do the rest,” Zimmerman said.
Club members install plastic mesh instead of painting the ice using the “Easy Sheet” product.
Making ice for the season is a good example of that volunteer effort. This is the third season in our new Curling Center, and our Facilities Committee chaired by Thor Brecht worked out some final mechanical bugs over the summer. The cooling of the floor began early in October, even before an Oct. 7 beer-tasting event in the multi-use facility. When the beer-tasting was over our iceman, Ken Burdett, and his crew cranked down the temperature and started to make ice. In preparation for the championship season we invested in two upgrades for the ice. Instead of painting targets on the ice we installed full-length competition surfaces pre-printed on plastic
mesh. This is the first U.S. installation of the “Easy Sheet” from Hack to Hack Solutions in Thorhild, Alberta. It’s a big labor-saving and it eliminates clean-up problems when the season is over. We also added a deionized water system for faster and more consistent ice. As chairman for the Mixed Nationals, Zimmerman concentrated on lining up sponsors for the event. “These events are not big moneymakers,” he said. “Sponsorships will help us deliver a first-class event without going into a hole. Sponsors of the 2011 USA Curling Mixed National Championship are Chemical Bank, Tim Horton’s, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Quad Graphics, and Goldline curling supplies. Their support is greatly appreciated. Because the ice is less than 1-inch thick, it was important to have these sponsorships nailed down in time to install in-ice sponsor logos when we made ice for the season. I completed the sponsor solicitation, ordered the logos, and then left for the Galapagos Islands. When I got back the ice was all in, transforming a space that supported day camp activities all summer into a championship-class curling venue. It’s beautiful.” The Midland Curling Center is located at 2009 Jefferson Ave., on the campus of the Midland Community Center. For more information on the Midland Curling Club, visit www.midlandcurls.org.
Reserved Seat Full Tournament Package: $139 • Guaranteed to have the same seat the entire time, reserved seats offer the best view of the house for each sheet. General Admission Full Tournament Package: $99 • Like to move around to get the best view? Then a general admission full tournament package is the best option for you. With the ability to move along both sides of the arena, general admission seating is the most flexible ticket out there. A look at Fargo • Metro population: 200,000+ • Location: Located on the North Dakota/Minnesota border, Fargo and Moorhead are divided by the Red River, which also divides the two states. • Amenities: Considered the number one shopping destination between Minneapolis, MN and Spokane, WA, West Acres Mall is located just a few miles northeast of Scheels Arena. * Home to the Red River Zoo, which specializes in rare and endangered species. * Over 325 restaurants ensures everyone’s culinary preferences can be observed. * Vibrant night life with more than 100 bars in the city from the upscale Hotel Donaldson (nicknamed the HoDo) in downtown Fargo to the laid-back charm of Chub’s Pub and Borrowed Buck’s Roadhouse. * Family friendly Children’s Museum at Younker Farm offering hands-on activities for the entire family. • Getting there: Easy driving due to the community’s location on the junction of two major interstates, I-29 and I-94. Hector International Airport has daily direct flights via Northwest/Delta, United and Frontier from Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake City. Also arriving are direct flights via Allegiant to and from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando and Phoenix.
Curling News
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
UNITED STATES
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
RAM is newest USA Curling sponsor by Terry Kolesar, Editor
T
he RAM Restaurant & Brewery is the newest sponsor of USA Curling. Headquartered in Lakewood, Wash., the private, independent and family-owned and operated business was founded in 1971, and is celebrating 40 years in 2011. “We are a fun, casual, constantly improving restaurant business, and our partnership with USA Curling is going to be a blast for all our guests,” said Jeff Iverson, Jr. of the Ram. “We like doing some crazy things and this past year we recognized how much people from all walks of life embrace USA Curling.” The RAM became interested in partnering with
USA Curling after an eyeopening experience at a leadership conference in New Orleans this past year. The RAM leaders decided to have all 50 attendees bond around the common theme of posing as members of the “1976 USA Curling Team.” Decked out in bright red USA Curling warm-ups, the group was embraced by Bourbon Street revelers and night spots. The hospitality and admiration they experienced in New Orleans as a result of this masquerade led RAM leaders to approach USA Curling about supporting the sport. “We had so much fun
being ‘affiliated’ with USA Curling for five days in New Orleans, it just stood to reason we should be involved day in and day out,” said Dave Iverson of The RAM. As part of its sponsorship, RAM will donate a portion of each sale of its award-winning Big Horn “Taster Curl” beer sampler to USA Curling. The sampler is in the shape of the curl of the horns on a big horn sheep (RAM) and includes six, 3-ounce samples of the company beers. The “Curls for Curling” campaign will be ongoing in 24 participating locations across the country. “We heartily welcome RAM as a new partner,” said USA Curling President Chris Sjue, Fargo, N.D. “The camaraderie of curling and RAM’s commitment to a great customer experience fit together very well. I
believe this partnership will have a very positive impact on the growth of curling in the U.S. at all levels.” There are a total of 17 RAM Restaurant & Brewery locations in the following markets: Indianapolis; North Chicago; Boise, Idaho; Salem and Portland, Ore., and in the Seattle/Tacoma, Wash., region. In addition, RAM owns six C.B. & Potts locations in the Denver and Fort Collins, Colo., area plus CI Shenanigan in Spokane, Wash. “We intend to be ‘curling headquarters’ with curling displays and vintage videos of curling action for guests to enjoy,” Dave Iverson said. We encourage you to make connections if there is a RAM in your area to look for enhanced partnership opportunities.
2010-11 Championship & Playdown Schedule Registration deadline: Closed 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6 12/6
Dates:
Site:
12/9-12/12 12/17-12/19 12/26-12/30 12/27-12/28 12/27-12/28 12/27-12/30 12/28-12/30 12/29-12/31 12/29-12/31 12/30-1/2 12/30-1/2
Duluth CC, Duluth, Minn. Fairbanks CC, Fairbanks, Alaska Madison CC, McFarland, Wis. Exmoor CC, Highland Park, Ill. Exmoor CC, Highland Park, Ill. Schenectady CC, Schenectady, N.Y. Midland CC, Midland, Mich. Granite CC, Seattle, Wash. Granite CC, Seattle, Wash. Capital CC, Bismarck, N.D. Bemidji CC, Bemidji, Minn.
January: U.S. Nationals Men’s Qualifying Round
1/5-1/9
11/29 11/29 11/29 11/29
Continental Cup of Curling Great Lakes Men’s & Women’s Club Nationals Playdowns Mountain Pacific Men’s & Women’s Club Playdowns Washington Men’s & Women’s Club Playdowns Men’s Challenge Round for 2011 Nationals Women’s Challenge Round for 2011 Nationals GNCC Men’s Club Nationals Playdown Minnesota Men’s & Women’s Club Playdowns North Dakota Men’s & Women’s Club Nationals Playdowns Wisconsin Men’s & Women’s Club Nationals Playdowns Alaska Men’s & Women’s Club Playdowns Karuizawa International Bonspiel At-Large/CO/NE Men’s & Women’s Club Playdowns Illinois Men’s & Women’s Club Nationals Playdowns GNCC Women’s Club Nationals Playdown 2011 Winter World University Games 2011 U.S. Junior National Championships
1/13-1/16 1/14-1/16 1/15-1/17 1/15-1/17 1/19-1/23 1/19-1/23 1/20-1/23 1/20-1/23 1/20-1/23 1/20-1/23 1/21-1/23 1/26-1/30 1/27-1/30 1/27-1/30 1/27-1/30 1/27-2/6 1/29-2/5
West: Granite CC, Seattle East: Rochester CC, Rochester, N.Y. Midwest North: Capital CC, Bismarck, N.D. Midwest South: Medford CC, Medford, Wis. St. Albert, Alberta Mayfield CC, South Euclid, Ohio Granite CC, Seattle, Wash. Granite CC, Seattle, Wash. Capital CC, Bismarck, N.D. Grand Forks CC, Grand Forks, N.D. Nutmeg CC, Bridgeport, Conn. Mankato CC, Mankato, Minn. Grafton CC, Grafton, N.D. Tri City CC, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. & Stevens Point CC Fairbanks CC, Fairbanks, Alaska Karuizawa, Japan Chicago CC, Northbrook, Ill. Chicago CC, Northbrook, Ill. Philadelphia CC, Paoli, Penn. Erzurum, Turkey Fairbanks, Alaska
February: 2011 U.S. Senior Men’s National Championship 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s National Championship Illinois Mixed Playdown At-Large/CO/NE Mixed Playdown Great Lakes Mixed Playdown North Dakota Mixed Playdown Wisconsin Mixed Playdown 2011 U.S. National Championships GNCC Mixed Playdown United States Senior Men’s Curling Association National Bonspiel Alaska Mixed Playdown 2011 Winter Deaflymics 2011 World Wheelchair Championship Minnesota Mixed Playdown Mountain Pacific Mixed Playdown Washington Mixed Playdown
2/2-2/6 2/3-2/6 2/4-2/6 2/4-2/6 2/4-2/6 2/10-2/13 2/12-2/13 2/12-2/19 2/17-2/20 2/17-2/20 1/15-1/16 2/18-2/26 2/22-3/1 2/25-2/27 2/26-2/27 2/26-2/28
Broomstones CC, Wayland, Mass. Capital CC, Bismarck, N.D. North Shore CC, Glenview, Ill. North Shore CC, Glenview, Ill. Columbus CC, Columbus, Ohio Grand Forks CC, Grand Forks, N.D. Blackhawk CC, Janesville, Wis. Scheels Arena, Fargo, N.D. Petersham CC, Petersham, Mass. Chicago, Ill. Anchorage CC, Anchorage, AK Vysoke Tatry, Slovakia Prague, Czech Republic Two Harbors CC, Two Harbors, Minn. Granite CC, Seattle, Wash. Granite CC, Seattle, Wash.
12/16 12/16 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20
March: 2011 World Junior Championships 2011 U.S. Club National Championships 2011 Capital One Women’s World Championship 2011 U.S. Mixed National Championship
3/5-3/13 3/5-3/12 3/19-3/27 3/19-3/26
Perth, Scotland Mankato CC, Mankato, Minn. Esbjerg, Denmark Midland CC, Midland, Mich.
April: 2011 Ford Men’s World Championship 2011 World Senior Championships 2001 World Mixed Doubles Championship
4/2-4/10 4/16-4/23 4/16-4/23
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada St. Paul CC, St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul CC, St. Paul, Minn.
Event: December: 2011 U.S. Mixed Doubles Championship Alaska Junior Playdowns Wisconsin Junior Playdowns Illinois Junior Playdowns At-Large/CO/NE Junior Playdowns Grand National Junior Playdowns Great Lakes Junior Playdowns MoPac Junior Playdowns Washington Junior Playdowns North Dakota Junior Playdowns Minnesota Junior Playdowns
1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6
1/20 1/20
1/20 1/20 1/20
13
Have you applied yet for 2012 Scots Tour? Applications are being accepted through Dec. 31 for consideration to be part of the Men’s 2012 Scots Tour team. Every 10 years, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) invites a team of 20 U.S. men’s curlers to compete in Scotland for the HerriesMaxwell Trophy. The competition takes place at many Scottish curling facilities over a 20-23 day period. The USCA reciprocates by hosting the Scots in alternate five-year periods. The Tour is characterized both by serious competition and by social and ambassadorial duties between the two countries. Selection to the 20-man 2012 U.S. Scotland Tour Team will be made via nominations of individual men signed by the president of their USCA member club and/or region. The Selection Committee will review nominations with the goal of selecting a Team by Dec. 31, 2010. The 2012 Tour will take place in the range of January through early February 2012, with the exact dates to be determined by the RCCC. Tour members pay all their own expenses for the three-anda-half-week tour, including air and local travel, lodging, uniforms and incidentals (most meals and 4-6 nights of housing are provided by the hosts). For men interested in participating, you can request a form by contacting Christy Hering at christy.hering@usacurl.org, or Andy Anderson at aander9416@aol.com. The form also is posted on the USA Curling website, www.usacurl.org/usacurl.
Donation The following donation was received for the 2009-10 Donation Program campaign: Wisconsin: Marshfield Krake, Tom $50
Did you win a bonspiel? Do you need to send in bonspiel results for publication in the Curling News? Send info to Editor Terry Kolesar via email at terry.kolesar@usacurl.org. Be sure to include caption information as well as club affiliations for all the event finalists. The next deadline is Feb. 4.
14
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
Plainfield Women’s The sixth annual Women’s MidAtlantic Bonspiel took place Oct. 21-24. Here are the results: 1EW–Niagara Falls: Sandra Brown, Brenda Grimo, Ellen Brenner, Christina Pisaric 1ERU–Utica: Kaitlyn Beebe, Kayla Martin, Julie Greenebaum, Jamie Bates 2EW–Plainfield 1: Suzanne Lindsay, Robin Kerr, Karen DeJong, Sue Sullivan 2ERU–Plainfield 2: Gail Knight, Mary Lou Mitchell, Emily Pike, Joan Shymko 3EW–Nutmeg: Jennifer Stannard, Leslie Naida, Jayne Beattie, Sabrina Keillor 3ERU–Philadelphia 3: Virginia McElroy, Maggie McMahon, Patti Myers, Angela Green 4EW–Cape Cod, Nutmeg & Plainfield: Nicole Arsenault, Abby Suslavich, Katie Sullivan, Abby Morgan 4ERU–Plainfield 3: Rachel Howell, Louisa Bartok, Debbie Cosiello, Cindy Vallier
Members of the newly-formed Oklahoma Curling Club won the Red River Shootout, a Continental-Cup style event between the OK club and Dallas-Fort Worth Curling Club held at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Farmers Branch, Texas.
Winners of the Kettle Moraine Fall Fling were (l-r) Heather Van Sistine, Emilia Juocys, Michele Heinze and Melva Sabatke.
Winners of the Blackhawk Women’s First Chance bonspiel were (l-r) Nancy Davis, Connie Gluth, Kathy Quale and Sue VanRooy.
Winners of the Carosella Women’s Bonspiel were (l-r) Maureen Fodera, Liz Williams, Bryn Davis and Kim Martin.
Winners of the North Shore Early Bird were (l-r) Chris Schallmo, Vickie Mayr, Joanne Beckwith and John Beckwith.
Winners of the North Shore Curling Club Open Bonspiel were (1-r) Debbie McCormick, Richard Maskel, Emilia Juocys and Heather Van Sistine.
Schenectady Women’s The eighth Carosella Memorial Ladies Bonspiel took place at the Schenectady (N.Y.) Curling Club Nov. 5-7. Here are the results: 1EW–Schenectady: Maureen Fodera, Liz Williams, Bryn Davis, Kim Martin 1ERU–Schenectady I: Charlene Fitzgerald, Fay Navratil, Paula Lancaster, Amanda Vickerson 2EW–Broomstones I: Carolyn MacLeod, Dawn Gutro, Catherine Walsh, Deana Lew 2ERU–Schenectady: Linda Austin, Laura Knussman, Amy Machold, Barb Kimmey 3EW–Utica: Katlyn Beebe, Kayla Martin, Marissa Wright, Jeanne Rice 3ERU–Nutmeg 2: Jennifer Stannard, Bobbie Stoll, Jayne Beattie, Terrie Allen 4EW–Broomstones 2: Maria Spitzak, Jo Shaw, Amy Hawrylchak, Sandy Bernstein 4ERU–Schenectady 4: Shirley Burgess, Betsy Whitefield, Roberta Fieden, Joan Pearson 5EW–Albany 2: Marilyn Goldstein, Martha Naber, Nancy Drischler, Joy Campisano 5ERU–Nutmeg: Libby Brundage, Jenna Burchesky, Julie Greenbaum, Lily Wadsworth
North Shore Open The 25th Annual Open bonspiel was held Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the North Shore Curling Club in Glenview, Ill. Here are the results: 1EW–Madison: Debbie McCormick, Richard Maskel, Emilia Juocys, Heather Van Sistine 1ERU–Exmoor: Ann Swisshelm, Nina Spatola, Sean Silver, Tony Roth 2EW–Madison: Kendall Moulton, Hannah Elko, Becca Funk, Susan Kawleski 2ERU–Waltham: Ev Wilson, Robb Vaughn, Nate Beer, Jay Reardon 3EW–North Shore: Mike Pfiffner, Jeff Bodine, Tom Kendall, Norm Westerhold 3ERU–Exmoor: Tracy Lawless, Leslie Armstrong, Annelise Crawford 4EW–Madison: Ken Neidhart, Tim Funk, Paul Ryan, Rob Wixon 4ERU–Great Smoky Mountains: Eric Kortebein, Alex Smith, Ben Levy, Matt Holtwick
Blackhawk Women’s The Blackhawk Women’s First Chance Bonspiel was held in Janesville, Wis., Nov. 5-7. Here are the results: 1EW–Appleton: Nancy Davis, Connie Gluth, Kathy Quale, Sue VanRooy 1ERU–Green Bay: Karen Ronk, Ashley Lymon, Nicole Miller, Terry Hermes 2EW–Madison: Marnee Hafeman, Clarion Gilbertson, Carla Lynch, Dae Jean Jahnke 2ERU–Blackhawk: Mary Conway, Laureen Spielman, Celia Zaccard, Denise Mezera 3EW–Madison: Jenna Haag, Grace Gabower, Chloe Pahl, Erin Wallace 3ERU–Chicago: Susan McDonald, Stephanie Martin, Susan Bennett, Betty
Winners of the Plainfield Mid-Atlantica Bonspiel were (l-r) Christina Pisaric, Ellen Brenner, Brenda Grimo and Sandra Brown. The Wauwatosa (Wis.) Curling Club hosted its Second Annual Stick Bonspiel. The winners were (l-r) Jackie Hipke and Vic Hybinette. Duffy 4EW–Green Bay: Doris Yelk-Wilberg, Mary Kenneke, Tracy Opicka, Juliana Klocek 4ERU–Racine/Alpine: Lisa Johnson, Jan Wolter, Dawn Johnson, Kari Kittermaster
Kettle Moraine Women’s The Kettle Moraine Fall Fling took place Oct. 28-29 in Hartland, Wis. Here are the results: 1EW–Kettle Moraine: Heather Van Sistine, Emilia Juocys, Michele Heinze, Melva Sabatke
1ERU–Exmoor: Shelley Pillon, Jeanne Goldman, Casey Kremer, Bev Laurell 2EW–Milwaukee: Linda Goetsch, Barb Hamm, Mary Beth Goelzer, Linda Even 2ERU–Madison: Cindy Godar, Beth Lepping, Jennifer Stannard, Maureen Guay 3EW–Exmoor: Tracy Lawless, Leslie Armstrong, Deborah Moulton, Eileen Kugman 3ERU–Superior: Millie Buege, Carol Lisdahl, Barbara Rampolla, Chris Helding 4EW–Green Bay: Karen Ronk, Clara Siedemann, Colleen Bucholtz, Roberta Breeden, Sandy Schaefer 4ERU–Waltham: Twila Yednock, Mary
Lou Schomes, Ann Vaughn 5EW–Kettle Moraine: Judy Maier, Janis Duncan, Mary Rasmussen, Ali Bedborough 5ERU–Wauwatosa: Roylee Pflughoeft, Martha Pflughoeft, Jill Gaetner, Jane Plowman
North Shore Mixed The North Shore Early Bird Bonspiel took place Nov. 12-14. Here are the results: 1EW–Exmoor: John Beckwith, Joanne Beckwith, Chris Schallmo, Vickie Mayr 1ERU–Exmoor: Russ Armstrong, Leslie
Armstrong, Sean Silver, Annelise Crawford 2EW–Chicago: Jim Murray, Deb Murray, Marc Palmeri, Therese Anderson 2ERU–Midland: Steve Dicken, Diane Dicken, Al Wilson, Darcie Wilson 3EW–Milwaukee: Bob Porsche, Donna Porsche, Scott Heatwole, Susan Heatwole 3ERU–Chicago: Larry Berlin, Jennifer Houk, Tim Orisek, Elizabeth Demers 4EW–Milwaukee: Ken Van Till, Pat Van Till, Tom Towers, Pat Towers 4ERU–North Shore: John Wilen, Deb Wilen, Jim Turoc, Pat Turocy
Curling News
USA Curling ... Dare to curl
UNITED STATES
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
15
Head to Fairbanks for Junior Nationals by Dave Flippo, Co-Chairman 2011 Junior Nationals
T
he Fairbanks Curling Club and the community of Fairbanks are excited to be hosting the 2011 USA Curling Junior Nationals this year. We want to congratulate the teams that will be playing this year and look forward to providing an experience that they will not soon forget. Anyone interested in information on the Junior Nationals is encouraged to visit our event website at www.2011juniornationals.com. This site will be updated regularly when news and information changes.
There are many activities for the teams to do while they are here. Although we know the athletes are here to compete, there will be opportunities for the teams to try their hand at things like dog mushing, ice carving, enjoying the Hot Springs, viewing the Northern Lights and the chance to take in a
The U.S. Curling Association is proud to recognize the following sponsors who support our sport and organization:
deep breath of minus-50 degree air. That being said, participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the Alaska weather. The locals will tell you it’s not all that bad and that it’s a dry cold, which is true, but frostbite can be a major concern if you’re not prepared. Being that the Alaska teams are used to traveling to these National events, we realize that it will be a long way for the teams to travel and we have done everything we can to keep the costs down. The athletes and spectators are encouraged to stay at The Princess Lodge, our host hotel. A rate of $65 per night has been negotiated and the hotel is large enough for all the teams and spectators. It is near the
HALL OF FAME Continued From Page 1 just about every season from 1990-2006 and at many Junior National Championships with teams from Minnesota over the years. He also coached at five Men’s World Championship events, the 2000 Women’s World Championship, five World Junior Championships, the Olympic Trials, and most notably, the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. He was twice named USA Curling’s Coach of the Year (2006, 1997). “A couple of great memories I have as an athlete are my participation in the 1979 Men’s World Championship (Silver Broom) in Bern, Switzerland, and the 2003 Senior Men’s World Championship in Winnipeg, where we finished second,” Fenson said. “Of course, I have great memories of competing with and against other curlers at all levels that have shared my love and passion for the game. As a coach, I’ve real-
SENIOR BONSPIEL Continued From Page 1 USSMCA competition will be limited to 64 teams in three events: 32 in the 35th Senior Men’s Curling Championship; 16 in the 18th Super Senior Men’s Curling Championship; and 16 in the 11th Masters Men’s Curling Championship. Additional teams desiring to participate will be put on a waiting list. Participants are guaranteed four games. All participants must have reached their 55th birthday before Feb. 17, 2011. They must be regular, full dues-paying members of a USCA member club for the full curling year. At least two members of any team must be members of
airport and only about a mile from the curling club. Dollar Rent a Car is also a sponsor of the event and has offered rates from $25 for economy/fullsize to $55 per day for a premium SUV. Other major sponsors of this event are BP and Fairbanks Youth Sports Foundation. Without our sponsors we would not be able to make this an event to remember. We greatly appreciate their contribution. Please contact Dave Flippo and Denny Thies, the event’s co-chairmen, via the website contact info link if you have any questions that can’t be found on the website. We look forward to seeing the athletes and spectators soon. Good curling!
ly enjoyed being able to work with teams, both junior and adult, and coaching them to world and Olympic competitions. It’s been rewarding to see the progress they’ve made at all levels.” Fenson has given back to the sport of curling in other leadership capacities as well. He was president of USA Curling during the 2003-04 season and a member of its Board of Directors from 1992-2008. He also served as a USA Curling representative to the World Curling Federation. He also served on the board for the Minnesota Curling Association for nearly three decades, twice serving as its president. Fenson’s curling and coaching career came to a screeching halt on Nov. 1, 2008, when he suffered a stroke. He spent three weeks in the neurological unit at Meritcare Hospital in Fargo, N.D., then two months in a nursing home in Bemidji, followed by two months in the local hospital rehab unit in Bemidji.
Fenson has been rehabbing since and still enjoys watching curling at his hometown Bemidji Curling Club, where he can be heard discussing strategy and recalling curling memories. He has not regained use of his right arm and wears a brace on his right leg and uses a cane. “We are happy he can walk some, even though it is short distances. We go to a local facility two or three times a week to exercise, and we get him out to do things as much as possible. It is a different life for us, and we do things differently, but we are blessed by so many wonderful family members and friends so life is good,” said his wife, Jan Fenson. The USA Curling Hall of Fame is housed at the national office in Stevens Point, Wis. It includes 39 individuals and two teams. Individuals can be nominated in three categories – as a curler, as a builder of the sport or as a curler/builder. The Athlete/Curler Recognition Committee oversees the selection of inductees.
the same eligible club. The other members must be members of an eligible club from the same USCA region. To be eligible for the Masters Event, all team members must be at least 68 years old. The 16 teams with the highest average ages will constitute the Masters Event. To be eligible for the Super Senior Event, all team members must be at least 63 years of age. The next 16 teams that have requested to be in the Super Senior Event, or the Masters Event (if that is oversubscribed), will make up the Super Senior Event. All other teams will be placed in the Senior Event, regardless of the teams’ average ages. The only
exception is if a team which meets the age requirements for the Masters Event or the Super Senior Event specifically requests placement in the Seniors Event. Entries will be accepted in the order in which they are received, with complete information and full payment. Receipt of an entry form does not ensure acceptance into the championships. Entries withdrawn after the closing date will be refunded at the sole discretion of the Championships Committee. Contact Mike Griem (847-234-6923, griemco@aol.com) or visit the Chicago CC web site (www.curlingchicago.org) for further information. Come join the fun! We hope to see you on the ice.
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011
Curling News UNITED STATES
USA Curling ... Dare to curl