The Daily Pebble
Volume 1, Issue 7 Saturday, March 7 Spatola Defeats Potter to Move on to the Gold Medal Game www.usacurl.org * Twi er: @terry_usacurl & @2014CurlingNats
Nina Spatola’s team will face the veteran Allison Po nger Semi-Final Dramatic Finish Results in a Fenson Win rink in the gold medal game at the USA Curling Na onal Championships presented by Laba a er emerging from the semifinals at IceWorks he semifinal between Arena this evening with a 9‐4 victory over the Cassie Po er rink. the Heath McCormick T and Pete Fenson teams “My team played a great game. We are on a roll, and are was a classic from start to finish, super focused,” said Spatola who will be skipping a team in the final for figuring to come down to who‐ her first me. She won the gold playing vice skip for Erika Brown in ever had the hammer last, or 2010. Spatola’s teammates – Becca Hamilton, Tara Peterson and So‐ made the last mistake. The fans phie Brorson —are all playing in their first final as well, but they showed crowding the stands and adjoin‐ plenty of poise in the semifinal today. “Our communica on is really ing pub viewing area at Ice‐ Friday’s Results good,” noted Spatola. “It is something we have been focusing on all Works Arena were treated to week.” high drama in nearly every end, down to the last Ailsa Craig Po er and teammates Jamie Haskell, Jackie Lemke and Team Spatola with Coach Doug Pottinger are all smiles after winning 12 p.m. Men’s Page Playoffs rock. Stephanie Sambor opened the game with the hammer, but saw that their semi-final game to move on to the Championship game. Brown 7, McCormick 6 advantage slip away in the first end as their last‐rock draw for one slid McCormick had the through the house, giving Spatola’s team a steal of two. Trying to blank Spatola’s team missed a chance to firmly close a door in the P. Fenson 7, Clark 4 hammer to start the game, and the second to retain last‐rock advantage, Po er instead stuck around eighth when they were light with their skip’s first rock draw to get as things went along, that count. Po er put drew her first shot around a couple stones in the top and scored one. Spatola and her team of suffered the same fate in the looked like it was going to make Pete Fenson looks on as Ryan Brunt works to sweep the opposition’s rock out play. of the 12‐foot but didn’t quite get far enough to out‐count an opposing 4 p.m. Women’s Semi-Final third, but led 3‐1. In the fourth end, Po er’s team was forced to hit for all the difference, especially as Photo by Kelllie ”Hemingway” Krake. one, making it a 3‐2 game. Spatola had a tough draw for two in the fi h, stone in the back of the four‐foot. Spatola threw a guard with her last Spatola 9, Potter 4 he was the hot skip, shoo ng in pressure in the ninth. The end took shape a er a center needing to get to the bu on, but her shot wrecked on a guard and the stone, leaving Po er to mull over whether to try a risky runback to the 90s most of the way. McCormick’s team opened the guard ck by Polo wasn’t converted, and Hufman drew team counted just one for a 4‐2 advantage going into the midgame score two, or play a draw to the four‐foot for one. A er taking a scoring with one in the first. A er a blank second, Fen‐ his second stone perfectly to the top of the bu on be‐ break. meout to confer with Coach Sandra McMakin, Po er’s team a empt‐ 8 p.m. Men’s Semi-Final son had a hogline viola on with his first rock in the hind the replaced center guard. With the last rock of ed an angle raise takeout for two. Po er’s shot didn’t curl enough to third end and wound up drawing against three with his Spatola’s team applied pressure again in the sixth, forcing P. Fenson 5, McCormick 4 the end, Fenson’s team had to draw the four‐foot promote the raised rock with enough weight to make the takeout, but last shot. Facing a somewhat tricky line, Fenson had to Po er to draw the four‐foot against three counters to narrow the score against three opposing counters. Fenson threw the chipped the stone in for first count to make it a 6‐4 game. draw the edge of the bu on for count however his shot to 4‐3. “We had control most of the ends,” noted Spatola. In the sev‐ stone to his sweepers, and they took care of it all the just rubbed an opposing counter in the top 12 and spun enth, the Spatola team gained a li le breathing room when Po er just The Spatola team executed well in the ninth to put the game way to the bu on to make it a 4‐4 game and set up the into second count, giving McCormick’s side a steal of missed a short raise to get first count, leaving the opposi on already away, though, conver ng an open hit for three with the hammer to go drama c last act. one and 2‐0 lead. coun ng two with the hammer yet to come. Spatola’s shot for three up 9‐4, a er which Po er’s team conceded. With the win, Spatola and Holding the hammer in the 10th, McCormick’s didn’t quite curl enough, however, and the team se led for two and a her team move on to play Allison Po nger in the Women’s final at McCormick upped the pressure in the fourth team had the final say in who was going to meet the 6‐3 lead. 10 a.m. and Fenson had to draw the bu on again for one, Craig Brown rink in Saturday’s gold medal game. On against three counters. This me, Fenson’s team made Fenson’s last rock he played a hit‐and‐roll behind a the draw perfectly to make it a 2‐1 game. The scenarios Tweets of the Day guard but rolled too far by about a foot which le the were much the same over the next two ends, with a four‐foot wide open for McCormick’s side to wint he draw for one by McCormick in the fi h, and a draw to Weather Report game. But heartbreak instead of ela on was what rang the bu on by Fenson in the sixth against mul ple coun‐ out for McCormick and his team as their final stone slid ters to make the score 3‐2. Philadelphia Weather Forecast by li le more than two inches too far, giving Fenson’s
Meteorologist George E. Groundhog: In the seventh, both skips missed freezes in team a steal of one for a 5‐4 win. the back of the house with their first stones. Fenson Saturday “You do what you can to get to the end and was nearly perfect freezing to shot rock with his sec‐ Saturday’s Schedule: then you hope you can make him have to make the last ° ond, however, forcing McCormick to draw for one. But 55 Mostly Sunny Skies with a shot,” said Fenson. “It’s very disappoin ng,” a gracious this draw came up short, so instead of a 4‐2 lead Certainty of Happy Curlers McCormick said a er the game. “We played a great 10 a.m. Women’s Final McCormick’s team found itself in a 3‐3 e. The Fenson and Fans game. I had draw weight all game. That spot curled in team was coun ng five in the eighth by the me th the eighth end, but in the 10 it stayed out. If it curled McCormick came up with the hammer. McCormick earlier it would have been OK. It’s very disappoin ng.” 3 p.m. Men’s Final drew in again and with strenuous sweeping by Hufman and Ruohonen, made the shot for first count by inches Fenson and his team will face the Craig
to take a 4‐3 lead. Brown rink in the Championship game at 3 p.m.
Follow USA Curling on Facebook and Twi er (@terry_usacurl) It was McCormick’s turn to ratchet up the Twee ng about this event? Use #2014Nats or #curling Page 2 The Daily Pebble, Volume 1, Issue 7 The Daily Pebble, Volume 1, Issue 7 Page 3
US National Championship returns to Kalamazoo, MI in 2015
By Kellie scoreboard to keep eve‐ “Hemingway” Krake, ryone engaged in every Daily Pebble Contrib- shot. A new smartphone uting Writer app will permit fans and athletes to keep current The 2015 on all event ac on and US Curling Na onal informa on. Athletes will Championship re‐ also find a new dehumidi‐ turns to Kalamazoo, fica on system installed Michigan on Febru‐ specifically for curling to ary 14‐21, 2015. ensure championship‐ Left, Colin Hufman shares his emotions after a devastating loss to Athletes, curling caliber ice. A new ck‐ Team Fenson in the semi-final (Photo by Kellie Krake). Center, fans, and curious e ng structure will em‐ Heath McCormick watches the line while his front end, sweeps spectators gather at phasize day‐passes in‐ feverishly (Photo by Kyle Calderwood). Right, Jackie Lemke calls for Wings Stadium to stead of single‐draw ck‐ a time-out in their semi-final game enjoy eight days of ets. More school children on‐ice compe on will be in the stands and off‐ice entertain‐ roo ng loudly and wildly. . (Photo by Kyle Calderwood). ment. In 2010, Kala‐ Learn2Curl sessions will Brown Advances to Final, Fenson vs McCormick in Semi-Finals mazoo turned Wings Members of the Kalamazoo Local Organizing Co en ce the curious. Live Craig Brown’s team made the two shots that counted most Stadium into a first‐ Joe Calabrese for an interview during the 5th end break of the TESN broadcast. music in the arena will in the 10th end at IceWorks Arena this a ernoon to overcome Heath class curling venue, help fire up the crowd McCormick’s foursome and advance to the gold medal game at the crowning Pete Fenson’s team and Erika Brown’s team as the 2010 US and keep them rocking. The Zooperstars will return and are sure to 2014 USA Curling Na onal Championships presented by Laba . Na onal Champions. entertain. mmittee, Jeff Weber and Chris Wang joined The McCormick vs. Brown game was very tac cal, with Jeff Weber, Chris Wang, and Emily Wiegand, members of Of course, no Championship event is complete without a McCormick drawing for a deuce in the fourth to take a 3‐2 lead, but the Kalamazoo Local Organizing Commi ee (K‐LOC), traveled to Phil‐ place for the fans to gather, share curling stories, and cheer for their Brown ge ng those two back in the fi h to lead 4‐3 at the midway adelphia this week to meet with the 2014 Na onal Championship favorite teams. The FanZone will host daily specials and nightly en‐ point. In the sixth, McCormick made a so tap for one against three commi ee to share some ideas and experiences. Weber, a member tertainment, including on‐site live music Thursday‐Saturday. of the 2010 (K‐LOC), thinks that one area in which these discussions opposing counters, and then his team stole one in the seventh to lead can help them is how to use social media as a marke ng tool to help Join the fun in Kalamazoo. Watch it live and feel the ex‐ 5‐4. Brown was forced to take one in the eighth, and looked to be in promote the event. He hopes to strengthen community engagement citement of world‐class curling by world‐class athletes. Tickets are big trouble early in the ninth, with McCormick’s side si ng three. But and build on the successes of 2010. available now. Contact the Jeff, Chris, and Emily at by the last rock, Brown’s team was coun ng two and forced McCor‐ www.wingstadium.com; usacurlingna onals.com, on the Facebook mick to draw for one and a 6‐5 lead. In 2014, fans will enjoy a new 40‐foot long, high‐defini on page and on Twi er: @usacurlingnats. The 10th was going the McCormick team’s way un l the last few rocks, when Brown made a perfect freeze to an opposing stone on the bu on. McCormick tried to take away the hit for two by pu ng his Daily Pebble: last stone on the center line just bi ng the house, but instead it Interested in trying out Terry Kolesar, Editor slipped into the rings. The lineup gave Brown an opportunity to play a three‐point swing. curling for yourself? runback for two, which he made perfectly to win the game, 7‐6. Un‐ Jeff Alber ni, Clark’s side worked hard for a deuce in the sixth, however, der the Page playoff format in use, the McCormick team has another Photography and le their skip with a wide‐open draw to the 12‐foot with the ham‐ Go to our website, chance to reach Saturday’s final, mee ng Pete Fenson’s rink in the Editorial assistants: mer, which he made with ease to make it a one‐point game again, 4‐3. semifinal game. Fenson’s team knocked off the defending champion www.usacurl.org, to Singles were traded over the next two ends. In the 10th end, Polo Ma hew Manzi & Brady Clark rink in the Page 3 vs. 4 game this a ernoon to stay in the find a curling club made a double peel with his secoEmotionsnd shot toran evaporate high after a the win guards. yesterday afternoon secured a spot in Sanjana Manjunath medals. A er Beighton missed a freeze withthe his Finals first for stone, Team FensonBrown. pickedPhoto provided the by Kyle Calderwood. Rick Patzke & Amelia near you. Fenson and teammates started out capitalizing on a mistake lonely opposing stone out to leave Clark’s team with only two rocks Young, Assistant in the first end to score two, and forced Clark to draw for one against le and three points behind, ending the game at 7‐4. Editors four counters in the third. A er a Fenson hit for one in the fourth, With the score 5‐4 in the ninth, Clark’s team had first count Clark and rink had a chance to e in the fi h. Clark used a couple of and was in perfect posi on to either steal or force Fenson to take one. The Daily Pebble can be opposing rocks in the top half of the house as corner guards to draw The call was for Clark’s last stone to se le into the top four‐foot, found online as well: behind with his first rock, but he slid into second count, giving Fenson www.usacurl.org guarding shot rock and likely causing Fenson to try to draw the bu on an opportunity to set up either a force or poten al steal. Fenson inad‐ from the other side. The shot slid into the back rings and third count, vertently set up a double for two when his last rock stopped short of Ideas? Send an e‐mail to however, leaving Clark’s other stone naked in the four‐foot and easy the intended target. Clark went for the double but hit it too thinly and Terry Kolesar at The next generation of curlers, Sean Clark, son of Brady Clark and pickings for Fenson, who popped it out cleanly to score two for a com‐ rolled out, giving up a steal of one to fall behind 4‐1, amoun ng to a [email protected] Jaxon Tilker, son of Philip Tilker, were practicing their sweeping skills manding 7‐4 lead playing the last end. for US Curling Nationals 2040.