In The Spotlight The Daily Pebble

Volume 1, Issue 7 Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 Find us online: www.usacurl.org * www.2013usacurlingnationals.com Striving for excellence

By Nichole Wierzba, Daily Pebble Staff Writer

Team Lemke (l-r): Ryan Lemke, Nate Gebert, John Lilla, and Casey Konopacky. Team Lank (l-r): Patti Lank, Mackenzie Lank, Nina Spatola, and Caitlin Maroldo. s you watch the event this week, what you aren’t seeing is the amount of time ath- Ryan Lemke • Competed at three U.S. Junior Nationals Patti Lank Career: Nurse Position: • Competed at 2002 Olympic Team Trials Position: Skip Curling start: Age 10 A letes put into training. On top of that, training Age: 29 John Lilla Age: 48 Education: Edgewood College needs to be balanced with the demands of everyday life; family, Hometown/Resides: Medford, Wis. Position: Second Hometown: Midale, Saskatchewan Curling club: Madison careers, and for the younger competitors of the group, school. Career: Owner/salesman, Medford Motors Age: 25 Resides: Lewiston, N.Y. Curling highlights: This is true for two teammates, Jared Zezel and John Land- Curling start: 1990 Hometown/Resides: Trempealeau, Wis. Career: Mom • 2-time U.S. junior national champion steiner. Curling club: Medford Career: Farmer and student Curling start: Age 14 (2008, 2006) STANDINGS: They both attend University of -Duluth, where Curling highlights: Education: Mechanical engineering degree Curling club: Rochester (N.Y.) • 2010 U.S. women’s national champion WOMEN: • Second appearance at the Men’s Nationals Curling start: 1995 Family: Married; two daughters • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Zezel is studying exercise science and Landsteiner is studying • Competed at two Junior Nationals Curling club: Centerville Education: George Brown College Caitlin Maroldo George 8-2* civil engineering. They both agree that balancing training and • Competed at three Mixed Championships Education: Curling highlights: Position: Lead Brown 8-2* their education can be difficult at times. Zezel takes about 12 to Nate Gebert Curling highlights: • 5-time U.S. national champion (2011, Age: 37 15 credits (credits are based on hours in class) each semester, Position: Vice skip • First appearance at Men’s Nationals 2004, 2002, 1999, 1997) Hometown: Utica, N.Y. Pottinger 7-3** just enough to be still considered a full-time student. John is Age: 35 • Competed at two U.S. Junior Nationals • Competing in her 19th national champi- Resides: Rochester, N.Y. Carlson 6-5** currently taking 13 credits but every semester hasn’t been that Hometown: Medford, Wis. Casey Konopacky onship in 2013 Career: Mom Resides: Milwaukee, Wis. Position: Lead • Competed in four Olympic Team Trials Curling start: Age 13 Lank 5-5 easy for him. “One semester, last year, I had 16 or 17 and that Career: Project manager with Gilbane Age: 27 Mackenzie Lank Curling club: Rochester (N.Y.) was more than 17 hours of class in a week. It was like 25 or 30 (left) and Jared Zezel of Team Shuster are Building Co. Hometown/Resides: Stevens Point, Wis. Position: Vice skip Family: Married; one daughter Roessler 4-5 because I had labs,” Landsteiner said. Semesters with smaller headed to the playoffs. Education: Bachelor’s degree in construc- Career: Laboratory manager with Wisconsin Age: 18 Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemis- Clark 3-6 numbers of credits allow for more time to be spent training. tion management Institute of Sustainable Technology Hometown/resides: Lewiston, N.Y. try from the University Because of taking fewer credits, both men have pushed back Curling start: 1991 Education: Manufacturing engineering Career: Aviation student of Rochester Hamilton 3-6 their graduation dates; Landsteiner, by one semester, and , member of 2006 and 2010 U.S. Olympic Teams. Curling club: Milwaukee degree Curling club: Rochester (N.Y.) Curling highlights: Anderson 2-7 Family: Single Curling start: 1995 Curling highlights: • 2011 national champion Zezel, by one year. When Jared was 20 and still playing in junior’s (21 and under), Curling highlights: Curling club: Stevens Point • 2011 U.S. national champion • 2006 world silver medalist as alternate Kinney 2-7 But in some aspects, being a college student and an aspir- Shuster contacted him and asked if he’d like to be part of a • First appearance at Men’s Nationals Curling highlights: Nina Spatola • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd *gold-medal game ing Olympic athlete isn’t as difficult as one would expect. Zezel team. “It’s hard to deny a two-time Olympian,” Jared said. “I’ve Position: Second place says, “It’s gotten easier, I think, in college compared to high learned a ton of stuff in the last two years … I never thought I’d Age: 24 • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 7th **bronze medal game school just because you had more classes going on.” They also be playing with two guys that I idolized as a kid.” At that time, Hometown: McFarland, Wis. place MEN: both agree that dealing with professors about their absences is Landsteiner was actually thinking about not curling the next * 7-2 usually smooth sailing. They say that, usually, the professors year until he got a phone call from Jared. “Jared calls me and are understanding and know that a shot at the Olympics is a says, ‘Yeah so, John Schuster is gonna call you and see if you *John Shuster 7-2 huge opportunity. John added that it helps living in an area wanna curl,’” Landsteiner said. “I think it took me a month and I * 6-4 where curling is a big deal and everyone knows about it. finally said yeah.” When asked if that was a good decision, he *Heath McCormick 7-4 What added to their drive and dedication to the sport was definitely agreed. Nick Myers Education: Associate’s degree landing spots And how could it be a bad decision when curling has been a Position: Vice skip Curling start: 2002 Mike Farbelow 5-5 on a team huge part of your life for so long? Landsteiner has been curling Resides: Mansfield, Texas Family: Single 5-5 with two since about age 8 or 9 and Zezel has been curling since he was Career: Construction project coordinator with Curling club: Madison & Kettle Moraine 12. Even with school, the sport hasn’t lost any importance. previous the University of Curling highlights: 5-5 Landsteiner said he has always lived within about four blocks of Texas at Arlington • First national championship appearance Olympians; 3-6 the curling club so, of course, it’s “a home away from home.” Family: Single • Competed at 5 U.S. Mixed National Champi- Jeff Curling club: Seattle (Granite) onship events Todd Birr 3-6 Isaacson, Team Persinger (l-r): Greg Persinger, Nick Myers, Sean Murray, and Tim Curling highlights: Tim Gartner member of Gartner. • Fourth appearance at men’s national cham- Position: Lead Ryan Lemke 0-9 the 2010 pionship Age: 36 *playoffs • Competed in 2010 and 2006 Olympic Team Hometown: Mankato, Minn. U.S. Olympic Greg Persinger Trials Resides: Eagan, Minn. Team and Position: Skip • 2007 U.S. Club National champion Career: Revenue analyst with CSM Corp. Age: 34 • Competed in 2000 U.S. Junior Nationals Education: University of Wisconsin-Stout Hometown/Resides: Fairbanks, Alaska Sean Murray Curling start: 1986 Career: Owner, Cold Stone Creamery, Fairbanks Position: Second Curling club: St. Paul Family: Married; three children Age: 31 Curling highlights: Heath McCormick & Dean Curling start: 1992 Hometown: Silver Spring, Md. • Competing in third men’s national champion- Curling club: Fairbanks Gemmell (left) celebrate their Resides: Watertown, Wis. ship Curling highlights: tiebreaker win. Team Brown Career: Driver/warehouse worker with Holt • Competed in two U.S. Junior Championships • Fourth men’s national championship appearance (right) embraces after winning Electric Supply • Competed in 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials a spot in the final. Page 2 The Daily Pebble, Volume 1, Issue 7 The Daily Pebble, Volume 1, Issue 7 Page 3

Friday’s Schedule: Thursday ’s Results: 9 a.m. men’s final round Icemaking: Labor of Love Family Legacy 9 a.m. Men’s Page Playoffs robin #1 Tyler George v. Farbelow 7, Persinger 1 By Harry Maier, Daily Pebble Staff Writer By Katie Arndt, Daily Pebble Staff Writer #2 John Shuster

Shuster 8, Fenson 1 (winner moves on to the final) George 7, McCormick 5 here’s only one word for maintaining ice during a ver the week, we have learned of several national curling tournament – precision. different relationships between this year’s USA Brown 8, Clark 6 #3 Heath McCormick v. #4 Precision means everything to the group of seven T Curling National Championships competitors, Brady Clark (winner moves Birr 8, Lemke 6 O ice technicians headed by Dave Staveteig of Grand Forks whether it be that they are good friends, teammates, N.D. The group maintains the ice before, after and during all siblings, rivals, or husband and wife. But an extraordinar- on to semifinal against loser 12 p.m. women’s tiebreaker the draws. “Basically, it comes down to shaving, pebbling, ily special relationship is the mother -daughter teammates, of #1 v. #2 game) Carlson 9, Lank 6 nipping and mopping all five sheets each day of the tourna- Patti and Mackenzie Lank (Lewiston, N.Y.) of Team Lank. ment,” Staveteig said. What other sport can say that they have a competitive Sounds easy, but it has to be done to perfection. “We team which includes mother daughter teammates? Not 2 p.m. men’s tiebreakers 2 p.m. Bronze Medal, want to provide the best ice possible for the athletes,” he many, if any. McCormick 7, Fenson 5 said. Mackenzie Lank started competing with her mother women: Clark 9, Brown 8 (extra end) All the work is done between games. “We don’t do after one of her mother’s teammates got hurt and was Pottinger v. Carlson anything on the ice that could be a distraction to the play- unable to play. “I thought, let Mackenzie play with us ers,” Staveteig said. 8 p.m. men’s tiebreaker because it would be an easy mix; I already know how she Patti and Mackenzie Lank Prior to shaving, the crews patch the ice, filling any John Kram of Bismarck, N.D., pebbles a sheet throws, and I knew she would do well,” said Patti Lank. McCormick 9, Farbelow 6 Women’s gold medal: holes or taking out scratches. Depending upon the condition during the round robin this week. Patti Lank ended up being correct; in 2011 they won the of the ice, four to six passes may be made with the shaver. U.S. National Championships together. “It was funny, I flying, but I also have to take five classes and on top of 9 a.m. Saturday 8 p.m. women’s semifinals Staveteig prefers the Ice Master shaver, provided by a other people commented saying it looked like I had a that I try and get out and practice every day. My school George 9, Carlson 6 company in Winnipeg, Canada. spark again because I was playing with my daughter. And has been really good about giving me weeks off, because Brown v. George Brown 8, Pottinger 7 (extra end) “That company also maintains the blades for us,” he ble counter-acts the first pebble. she is a little spark herself, so it was just really, really normally you can’t get them,” said Mackenzie Lank. Her Men’s gold medal: said, noting the blades “require very precision sharpening, The reason for two different size pebbles, Staveteig exciting,” said Patti Lank. life is certainly not for everyone, but it’s working for her that’s the only way to get level ice.” explained, is that after six ends the higher pebble is worn From winning together to hanging out at home, one very driven self. 3 p.m. Saturday The shaver has a 5-foot blade with a razor-sharp blade down, which means that for the final four ends of a 10-end might think that a teenage daughter might get a little tired Not very many girls can say they have competed with that can be used to shave about 20 draws. Staveteig’s game, the rocks then will ride on the smaller pebble. of her mother. “My husband always says we’re peas in a their Mother and not many mothers can say that they have equipment trailer carries four blades, with probably two The pebble is very sensitive to the ice temperature, a pond. We really do enjoy each other’s company. Even competed with their daughters, in any sport. A relationship used for the 2013 Nationals. reason why the ice technicians seek to maintain a tempera- when she was younger; 16-year olds usually don’t like like Patti and Mackenzie Bid to win a broom signed by It feels Pebbling itself is a science. Each sheet of ice receives ture in the narrow range of 23-24 degrees. their mom, but we always got along,” said Patti Lank. Lank’s is something for the this year’s champions like two pebbles from opposite directions, one with 78 holes for As the game progresses, the pebble becomes worn, Mackenzie laughed as she talked about her relationship books. Thus far, Team Ground an extra fine pebble and another with 64 holes for a larger which affects the curl. with her mom. “My mom texts me every single day asking Lank, which also includes Limited edition Team USA Hog’s pebble. He added the bottom of the rock also changes tempera- me if I practiced, that’s always awesome. I don’t know, I Nina Spatola and Caitlin curling broom, manufactured by Day. An ice technician takes about 70 steps as he travels the ture, getting warmer as the game progresses. think the fact that she’s very successful and able to teach Maroldo, is 5-3, which still Balance Plus, autographed by the length of the sheet, covering the area in 35 seconds. After Staveteig agrees there have been many changes in me is the reason I’ve become a better curler,” said makes this mother daugh- gold medal winners of the 2013 the ice is shaved, the snow is scraped up and melted. The maintenance of curling ice over the years. “That’s part of the Mackenzie Lank. ter team a tough contender water is measured. One and one-half ounces of water meets game. You have to be However, Patti Lank is not the only strong influence in for yet another national USA Curling National Champion- the standard. ready to accept Mackenzie Lank’s life. Not only has she followed her title. ships. Proceeds benefit the dual “The rock rides on about eight or nine pebbles as it change,” he said. mother’s footsteps when it comes to curling, but she is mission of the non-profit U.S. Daily Pebble: traverses the ice. Any more pebble and the rock will drag,” also following her father’s footsteps when it comes to Curling Association to support our Staveteig said. By giving each sheet two pebbles, one peb- choosing a career. Mackenzie Lank’s father is a pilot, and country's teams in pursuit of  Terry Kolesar, Editor Mackenzie has decided to pursue a career like his as well international excellence, and to  Rich Harmer, by attending aviation school in , Alberta. develop the sport across the Mackenzie Lank certainly has a lot on her plate between Photography nation. Go here to start bidding school and curling. “It’s kind of hard because not only am Caitlin Maroldo  Contributing writers: or visit the USA Curling website: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ Katie Arndt, Nichole eBayISAPI.dll? Wierzba, James Thank you to our sponsors: ViewItem&item=181080282137 Taylor, Harry Maier, Claire Skuble

 Rick Patzke, Chris Plys Presenting sponsor: Brooms Up Curling Supplies, Assistant Editor www.broomsupcurling.com John Shuster  Printing by Inner Workings &

The Daily Pebble can be Check out these local hot spots: found online as well: Regatta 220- 465 Marina Ln., relaxed dining atmosphere on the beautiful Fox River. Scray Cheese- 2082 Old Martin Rd., wide variety of specialty cheeses, local wine and www.usacurl.org/ gourmet coffee. curlingrocks Follow USA Curling on Facebook Saranac Glove- 999 Lombardi Ave., quality glove supplier for sport, work, fitness and and Twitter (@terry_usacurl) more. Tweeting about this event? Cooks Corner- 969 Waube Ln., nation’s largest kitchen store. Ideas? Send an e-mail to Please use #2013Nats or #curling Terry Kolesar at Legends Brewhouse & Eatery- 875 Heritage Rd., De Pere, local micro-brewery. To find more to do, visit the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau at [email protected] www.greenbay.com.

Molly Bonner