SWEEPING TO SOCHI

USA Media Kit CONTENTS

WOMEN’S TEAMS – TRIALS ETC:

// BROWN, ERIKA 4-5 // SCHEDULE: OLYMPIC TRIALS 24-25

// GEORGE, COURTNEY 6-7 // OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION EVENT 26-27

// POTTER, CASSIE 8-9 // SCHEDULE: 28

// POTTINGER, ALLISON 10-11 // SCHEDULE: PARALYMPIC GAMES 29

// STORY LINES 30 MEN’S TEAMS – TRIALS // 2013-14 EVENT SCHEDULE 31 // CLARK, BRADY 12-13 // FAST FACTS: TRIALS FIELD 32-35 // FENSON, PETE 14-15 // OLYMPIC HISTORY 36 // GEORGE, TYLER 16-17 // PLACES TO CURL 37 // MCCORMICK, HEATH 18-19 // CURLING 101 38-39 // SHUSTER, JOHN 20-21

// TEAM USA, 22-23

About USA Curling The United States Curling Association (doing business as USA Curling) is the Governing Body of the sport of curling in the United States and has its national office in Stevens Point, Wis.

As the NGB for the sport of curling, the USCA strives to grow the sport and to win medals in world championships and Olympic Games. The USCA is a member of the and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

USA Curling’s membership is around 16,000 curlers in more than 160 member clubs in 40 U.S. states. The association’s growth has been significant since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games with an approximate 47 percent growth in membership. MEDIA INFORMATION

USA Curling athletes, coaches and High Performance staff members are available to media through the USA Curling Media & Communications office. To request availability or a media credential for any of our events, please contact: Terry Kolesar, director of communications: Office: 715-344-1199, Ext. 202 Cell: 608-338-9900 [email protected] www.usacurl.org

USA Curling is active on social media platforms. Follow us on:

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Twitter: @terry_usacurl

USA Curling (( 3 Team Brown

Team Brown (l-r): , Debbie McCormick, , and .

Dates Event Location Result

Aug. 16-18 Fort Wayne Cashspiel Fort Wayne, Ind. 4-2, quarterfinals

Sept. 6-9 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 5-1, semifinals

Sept. 13-15 Shoot-out @ Saville Centre , 3-3

Sept. 19-22 Shorty Jenkins Classic Brockville, Ontario 1-4

Oct. 11-14 Autumn Gold Classic Calgary, Alberta 1-3

Oct. 18-20 Stroud Sleeman Classic Stroud, Ontario 3-1, semifinals

Oct. 30- Masters of Curling Abbotsford, British Columbia 0-4 Nov. 3

Nov. 10-17 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

4 )) usacurl.org Erika Brown • 1998 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place Position: Twitter: @Deb_McCormick Age: 40 Hometown: Madison, Wis. Jessica Schultz Resides: Oakville, Ontario Position: Second Career: Physician assistant with McMaster Family Health Team Age: 28 Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison; Finch University Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska of Health Sciences Resides: Minneapolis, Minn. Curling start: 1980 Career: Physical therapist assistant Curling club: Oakville (Ontario) Education: Lake Superior College Family: Married; three sons Curling start: Age 13 Curling highlights: Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) • 1998 Olympian (also on 1988 Olympic team at age 15 when Curling highlights: curling was a demonstration sport) • 2006 Olympian • 7-time U.S. national champion (2013, 2010, 2004, 2002, • 3-time U.S. national champion (2013, 2011, 2005) 1999, 1996, 1995) • 2005 world silver medalist • 2-time world silver medalist (1999, 1996) • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2013, 2005 • 2000 U.S. mixed national champion • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 5th place • 6-time U.S. junior national champion (1994, 1993, 1992, • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place 1991, 1989, 1988) Twitter: @Jess_curls • 2-time world junior silver medalist (1994, 1992) • 1993 world junior bronze medalist Ann Swisshelm • USA Curling Athlete of the Year: 2013, 2004, 1994, 1989 Position: Lead • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2013, 2004, 1999 Age: 45 • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 4th place Hometown: Middletown, Ohio • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place Resides: Chicago • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place Education: Drake University • 1998 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place Curling start: Age 12 Twitter: @ebrowncurls Curling club: Exmoor (Ill.) Family: Married Debbie McCormick Curling highlights: Position: Vice skip • 2002 Olympian Age: 39 • 5-time U.S. national champion (2013, 2010, 2003, 2001, 1998) Hometown: Rio, Wis. • 2003 world gold medalist Career: Curling supplies distributor with Goldline • Frances Brodie Sportsmanship Award recipient at 2001 Education: Madison Area Technical College World Championships Curling start: Age 10 • Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award recipient at 2008 Nationals) Curling club: Madison & Pardeeville (Wis.) • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2013, 2003 Family: Married • USA Curling Athlete of the Year: 2001 Curling highlights: • Ann has competed in 19 straight national championships, • 3-time Olympian (2010, 2002, 1998) most recently winning in 2013 • 8-time U.S. national champion (2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place 2006, 2003, 2001, 1996) • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place • 2003 world gold medalist • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place • 2-time world silver medalist (2006, 1996) • 1998 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place • 4-time U.S. junior national champion (1994, 1993, 1992, 1991) Twitter: @curlannie • 2-time world junior silver medalist (1994, 1992) • 1993 world junior bronze medalist Coach: Bill Todhunter • USA Curling Athlete of the Year: 2006, 2003 • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2013, 2003 Team Twitter account: @rockebro • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place Team Facebook page: • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place https://www.facebook.com/TeamErikaBrown • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place

USA Curling (( 5 Team C. George

Team George (l-r): , Amanda McLean, Aileen Sormunen, and .

Dates Event Location Result

4-3, Aug. 16-18 Fort Wayne Summerspiel Fort Wayne, Ind. semifinalists

Sept. 5-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 2-3

Sept. 20-22 FSCC Early Cashspiel Blaine, Minn. 3-2

3-2, Sept. 26-29 KW Fall Classic Waterloo, Ontario quarterfinals

Oct. 4-6 St. Paul Cashspiel St. Paul, MN 3-2

4-2, Oct. 18-21 Atkins Curling Supplies Women’s Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba quarterfinals

Oct. 31-Nov. 3 Royal LePage Women’s Fall Classic Kemptville, Ontario 0-3

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

Nov. 22-24 Molson Cashspiel Duluth, Minn.

6 )) usacurl.org Courtney George Monica Walker Position: Skip Position: Lead Age: 27 Age: 26 Hometown: Duluth, Minn. Hometown/Resides: Brighton, Mass. Resides: St. Paul, Minn. Career: Quality control associate with Biogen Idec Career: Currently working on a master’s degree in occupa- Education: Boston University graduate; MBA candidate at tional therapy at St. Catherine University with an internship at Simmons College Woodwinds Hospital. Curling start: Age 10 Education: University of St. Thomas (undergraduate degree) Club: Broomstones (Wayland, Mass.) Curling start: Age 10 Curling highlights: Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) • 4 U.S. Nationals appearances (4th place in 2013) Curling highlights: • 4 U.S. Junior Nationals appearance • 2006 Olympian (as alternate) • 2007 World Junior Championships (alternate) • 2005 world silver medalist (as alternate) • Making first Olympic Team Trials appearance • 2-time U.S. junior national champion (2007, 2004) Twitter: @monwalkcurl • 2002 world junior gold medalist (as alternate) • 2003 world junior silver medalist (as alternate) Jordan Moulton • 2010 Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place Position: Alternate • 2006 Olympic Team Trials: 4th place Age: 26 Twitter: @courtneycgeorge Hometown: Highland Park, Ill. Resides: Minneapolis, Minn. Aileen Sormunen Career: Director of operation, Magna Health & Fitness Position: Vice skip Education: Degrees in Russian, Spanish & economics from the Age: 26 University of Hometown/resides: Duluth, Minn. Curling start: 2002 Career: Commercial lines account executive at Liscomb-Hood- Club: St. Paul, Minn. Mason Co., a Marsh & McLennan Agency Curling highlights: Education: University of Minnesota-Duluth • 5 U.S. Nationals appearances (4th place in 2013) Curling start: Age 10 • Two-time U.S. Junior Nationals champion Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) • Making her second Olympic Team Trials appearance (bronze Curling highlights: medalist in 2010 Olympic Trials) • 2-time U.S. junior national champion (2007, 2004) • Recipient of the 2006 World Junior Sportsmanship Award • 2010 Olympic Team Trials: 5th place • 2006 Olympic Team Trials: 4th place Coach: Tom George

Amanda McLean Position: Second Age: 25 Hometown: Duluth, Minn. Resides: St. Paul, Minn. Career: Civil Engineer at Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Education: Graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Curling start: Age 9 Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) Curling highlights: • 2004 U.S. junior national champion • Member of Team USA at 2009 World University Games • 2010 Olympic Team Trials: Bronze • 2006 Olympic Team Trials: 4th place

USA Curling (( 7 Team Potter

Team Potter (l-r) Cassie Potter, Jamie Haskell, Jackie Lemke, and Stephanie Sambor.

Dates Event Location Result

Aug. 16-18 Fort Wayne Cashspiel Fort Wayne, Ind. 2-3

Sept. 12-15 The Shootout @ The Saville Centre Edmonton, Alberta 1-3

Sept. 20-22 FSCC Early Cashspiel Blaine, Minn. 6-1, runner-up

Oct. 3-6 Prestige Hotel & Resorts Classic Vernon, British Columbia 2-3

Oct. 18-21 Atkins Curling Supplies Classic Winnipeg, Manitoba 2-3

Oct. 24-27 Bernick’s Miller Lite Bemidji, Minn. 2-2

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

8 )) usacurl.org Cassie Potter Jackie Lemke Position: Skip Position: Second Age: 32 Age: 28 Hometown: Bemidji, Minn. Hometown/resides: Medford, Wis. Resides: St. Paul, Minn. Career: High school English teacher Career: Minnesota Historical Society Education: Bachelor’s degree in English education and teaching Education: Bemidji State University English as a second language Curling start: Age 6 Curling start: 1993 Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) Curling club: Medford (Wis.) Family: Married; one daughter Family: Married; one daughter Curling highlights: Curling highlights: • 2006 Olympian • 2006 U.S. junior national champion • 2005 U.S. national champion • Competed in four women’s national championships • 2005 world silver medalist • Competing in first Olympic Team Trials • 2-time U.S. junior national champion (2002, 2003) • 2002 world junior gold medalist Stephanie Sambor • 2003 world junior silver medalist Position: Lead • 2005 USA Curling Athlete of the Year Age: 29 • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2005, 2002 Hometown: Minot, N.D. • Frances Brodie Award for Sportsmanship at 2005 Women’s Resides: St. Paul, Minn. World Championship Career: Physical therapist • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 7th place Education: University of North Dakota • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place Curling start: Age 18 • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place Curling club: Minot (N.D.) Twitter: @ccpotter Curling highlights: • Team USA, 2007 World University Games Jamie Haskell • 2005 U.S. junior national champion Position: Vice skip • Competing in her first Olympic Team Trials Age: 33 Twitter: @stephsambor Hometown/Resides: Bemidji, Minn. Education: Bemidji State University Coaches: Sandra McMakin Occupation: Works for First National Bank, Bemidji Curling start: Age 7 Curling club: Bemidji (Minn.) Family: Married Curling highlights: • 2006 Olympian • 2005 U.S. national champion • 2005 world silver medalist • 2002 U.S. junior national champion • 2002 world junior gold medalist • 2008 U.S. mixed doubles national champion • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2005, 2002 • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 7th place • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place

USA Curling (( 9 Team Pottinger

Team Pottinger (l-r): , , , and .

Dates Event Location Result

Aug. 16-18 Fort Wayne Cashspiel Fort Wayne, Ind. 3-3, quarterfinals

Sept. 5-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 2-2

Kitchener-Waterloo, Sept. 26-29 KW Fall Classic 3-2, quarterfinals Ontario

Oct. 3-6 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Classic Vernon, British Columbia 4-3, quarterfinals

Kamloops, British Oct. 18-20 Valley First Crown 6-0, champions Columbia

Oct. 25-27 Bernick’s Miller Lite Open Bemidji, Minn. 2-2

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

Dec. 6-8 Madison Cashspiel Madison, Wis.

Dec. 20-21 Iron Trail Motors Shootout Eveleth, Minn.

10 )) usacurl.org Allison Pottinger Natalie Nicholson Position: Skip Position: Second Age: 40 Age: 37 Hometown: Brampton, Ontario Hometown/resides: Bemidji, Minn. Resides: Eden Prairie, Minn. Career: Nurse practitioner Career: Consumer insights manager with General Mills Education: University of North Dakota-Grand Forks Education: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Curling start: Age 17 Curling start: Age 11 Curling club: Bemidji (Minn.) Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) Family: Married; two daughters Family: Married; two daughters Curling highlights: Curling highlights: • 2010 Olympian • 2010 Olympian • 8-time U.S. national champion (2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, • 10-time U.S. national champion (USA Curling record) 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000) • 2003 world gold medalist • 2006 world silver medalist • 3-time world silver medalist (2006, 1999, 1996) • 2-time U.S. junior national chapmion (1997, 1995) • 2-time U.S. mixed national champion • 2009 USA Curling Athlete of the Year • 1994 U.S. junior national champion • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2004, 1997 • 1994 world junior silver medalist • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2003, 1999 • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place • USA Curling Athlete of the Year: 2012, 2008 • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 6th place • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place • 1998 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 6th place • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place Tabitha Peterson Twitter: @APottinger Position: Lead Age: 24 Nicole Joraanstad Hometown/resides: Eagan, Minn. Position: Vice skip Career: Pharmacy graduate student Age: 32 Education: University of Minnesota Hometown: Kent, Wash. Curling start: Age 11 Resides: Verona, Wis. Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) Career: Associate manager - Talent Selection & Retention with Curling highlights: TDS Telecom • 2012 U.S. national champion Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison • 2-time U.S. junior national champion (2010, 2009) Curling start: Age 15 • 2010 world junior bronze medalist Curling club: Madison (Wis.) Family: Married; one daughter Team manager: (2010 Olympian, 2003 world Curling highlights: champion) • 2010 Olympian • 7-time U.S. national champion (2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002) • 2006 world silver medalist • 2-time U.S. junior national champion (2001, 2000) • 2000 world junior bronze medalist • 2007 USA Curling Athlete of the Year • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2004, 2000 • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 1st place • 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 3rd place • 2002 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 4th place Twitter: @NicCurl

USA Curling (( 11 Team Clark

Team Clark (l-r): , Sean Beighton, Darren Lehto, Philip Tilker, and (back).

Dates Event Location Result

Sept. 5-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 2-2

The Shoot-Out @ The Saville Sept. 12-15 Edmonton, Alberta 3-3, quarterfinals Centre

Sept. 20-22 Cloverdale Cashspiel Surrey, British Columbia 2-3, quarterfinals

Saskatoon, Sept. 27-30 PointOptical Curling Classic 1-3

Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Vernon, British Oct. 4-7 6-3, runner-up Classic Columbia

Kamloops, British Oct. 18-21 Valley First Crown of Curling 4-2, quarterfinals Columbia

Oct. 25-28 Cactus Pheasants Classic Brooks, Alberta 3-3

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 Seattle Cashspiel Seattle, Wash.

12 )) usacurl.org Brady Clark Darren Lehto Position: Skip Position: Lead Age: 36 Age: 45 Hometown: Grand Forks, N.D. Hometown: Athabasca, Alberta Resides: Lynnwood, Wash. Resides: Seattle, Wash. Career: Senior business analyst with Liberty Mutual Career: Regional sales manager with RedBuilt Family: Married to Cristin; one son, Sean Education: Civil engineering technologist degree Curling start: Age 12 Curling start: Age 16 Curling club: Granite (Seattle) Family: In a relationship Curling highlights: Curling club: Granite (Seattle) • 2013 U.S. men’s national champion Curling highlights: • Nine men’s national championship appearances • 2013 U.S. men’s national champion • Nine-time U.S. Mixed National champion • 2005 U.S. Mixed National champion • Three-time U.S. Mixed Doubles National champion • Runner-up, 2003 Men’s Nationals • Competed in 2010 and 2006 Olympic Team Trials • Competed in five U.S. Junior Nationals Greg Persinger • Two-time USA Curling Team of the Year (2012, 2009) Position: Alternate • 2013 USA Curling Male Athlete of the Year Age: 35 Hometown/Resides: Fairbanks, Alaska Sean Beighton Career: Owner, Cold Stone Creamery, Fairbanks Position: Vice skip Family: Married; three children Age: 24 Curling start: 1992 Hometown/Resides: Seattle Curling club: Fairbanks Career: Video co-producer/editor with Brashenomics Curling highlights: Family: Single • Competed in four men’s national championships Curling start: Age 13 • Competed in 2006 Olympic Team Trials Curling club: Seattle (Granite) • Competed in six U.S. Junior Championships Curling highlights: • Competed twice in U.S. Mixed National Championship • 2013 U.S. men’s national champion • Competed in 1997 World Junior Championships (alternate) • 2010 U.S. junior national champion • Competed in 2013 World Men’s Championship (alternate) • Runner-up at the 2010 Mixed Doubles National Championship • 2012 U.S. Mixed National champion Coach: Ken Trask

Philip Tilker Team Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TeamBradyClark Position: Second Team Twitter account: @teamclark2013 Age: 36 Hometown: Bracebridge, Ontario Resides: Seattle Career: Software developer with Amazon.com Family: Married; one son Curling club: Granite (Seattle) Curling highlights: • 2013 U.S. men’s national champion • Three-time U.S. Mixed National champion

USA Curling (( 13 Team Fenson

Team Fenson (l-r): , Shawn Rojeski, , and Ryan Brunt.

Dates Event Location Result

Sept. 5-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 1-3

Sept. 20-22 Shorty Jenkins Classic Brockville, Ontario 1-4

Sept. 27-30 Point Optical Curling Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 4-3

Oct. 11-14 StuSells Toronto Tankard Toronto, Ontario 0-3

Oct. 25-27 Bernick’s Miller Lite Open Bemidji, Minn. 4-1, semifinals

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

14 )) usacurl.org Pete Fenson Joe Polo Position: Skip Position: Second Age: 45 Age: 30 Hometown/Resides: Bemidji, Minn. Hometown: Bemidji, Minn. Career: Owner/operator, Dave’s Pizza Resides: Duluth, Minn. Education: Bemidji State University Career: Project manager with Lakehead Constructors Curling start: 1982 Education: University of North Dakota-Grand Forks Curling club: Bemidji (Minn.) Curling start: 1992 Family: Married; two sons Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) Curling highlights: Family: Married • 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Curling highlights: • 7-time national champion (2011, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2003, • 2006 Olympic bronze medalist 1994, 1993) • 4-time national champion (2011, 2010, 2006, 2005) • 1993 world bronze medalist • 2010 USA Curling Athlete of the Year • 3-time USA Curling Athlete of the Year (2011, 2005, 2003) • 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Year • 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Year • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2006 • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2006 Twitter: @joepolo1 • Competing in his 20th men’s national championship Ryan Brunt Shawn Rojeski Position: Lead Position: Vice skip Age: 27 Age: 41 Hometown/Resides: Portage, Wis. Hometown/Resides: Chisholm, Minn. Career: Substitute teacher Career: Corporate quality manager with Lakehead Constructors Education: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Education: Bemidji State University Curling start: 1992 Curling start: 1984 Curling club: Bemidji (Minn.) Curling club: Hibbing (Minn.) Curling highlights: Curling highlights: • 2011 national champion • 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Twitter: @bluntmanbrunt • 5-time national champion (2011, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2003) • 2006 USA Curling Athlete of the Year Coach: Ed Lukowich • 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Year • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2006 • 2-time U.S. junior champion • 1991 world junior bronze medalist

USA Curling (( 15 Team T. George

Team George (l-r): Colin Hufman, Rich Ruohonen, Chris Plys, and .

Dates Event Location Result

Sept. 6-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 2-2

Sept. 19-22 Shorty Jenkins Classic Brockville, Ontario 4-2, quarterfinals

Oct. 4-6 St. Paul Cashspiel St. Paul, Minn. 6-2, runner-up

Oct. 11-14 Stu Sells Toronto Tankard Toronto, Ontario 1-3

Oct. 30-Nov. 3 Masters of Curling Abbotsford, British Columbia 0-4

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

16 )) usacurl.org Tyler George Rich Ruohonen Position: Skip, throws vice stones Position: Second Age: 31 Age: 42 Hometown/Resides: Duluth, Minn. Hometown/Resides: Minneapolis, Minn. Career: Real estate agent Career: Attorney Curling start: 1994 Curling start: 1981 Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) Curling club: St. Paul (Minn.) Curling highlights: Education: Hamline University • 2010 U.S. national champion Family: Married; two children • 2001 world junior bronze medalist as alternate Curling highlights: • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2nd place • 2008 U.S. national champion Twitter: @tgeorge1323 • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 5th place • 2006 U.S. Olympic team Trials: 5th place Chris Plys Position: Vice skip, throws last rocks Colin Hufman Age: 26 Position: Lead Hometown/Resides: Duluth (Minn.) Age: 29 Career: Manages family food commodity business Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska Curling start: 1998 Resides: Seattle, Wash. Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) Career: Professional curler Curling highlights: Education: Graduated from Shoreline Community College in • 2010 Olympian 2013 with plans to attend the University of Washington in the • 5-time U.S. junior national champion (2009, 2008, 2007, fall of 2014 2006, 2003) Curling start: 1995 • 2008 world junior gold medalist Curling club: Granite (Wash.) • 2009 world junior bronze medalist Curling highlights: • 2007 World University Games gold medalist • 2002 U.S. junior national champion • USA Curling Team of the Year: 2008 • Making 10th appearance at Men’s Nationals • 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 8th place • 2010 U.S. Olympic Trials runner-up Twitter: @chrisplys • 2006 U.S. Olympic Trials bronze medalist • Competed for Team USA at 2002 World Juniors

USA Curling (( 17 Team mcCormick

Team McCormick (l-r): Heath McCormick, , , and .

Dates Event Location Result

Sept. 5-8 StuSells Oakville Tankard Oakville, Ontario 2-2

Saskatoon, Sept. 26-29 Point Optical Classic 2-3 Saskatchewan

Oct. 4-6 St. Paul Cashspiel St. Paul, Minn. 1-4

Oct. 17-20 Stroud Sleeman Cashspiel Stroud, Ontario 5-3, runner-up

Huron ReproGraphics Oil Heritage Oct. 24-27 Sarnia, Ontario 3-2, quarterfinals Classic

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

18 )) usacurl.org Heath McCormick Dean Gemmell Position: Skip Position: Lead Age: 37 Age: 46 Hometown: Lansing, Mich. Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ontario Resides: Sarnia, Ontario Resides: Short Hills, N.J. Career: Insurance broker/real estate investor Career: Writer Education: University of Western Ontario Education: McGill University Curling start: 1992 Curling start: 1978 Curling club: Sarnia CC Curling club: Plainfield (N.J.) Family: Married; two daughters Family: Two children Curling highlights: Curling highlights: • 2013 Continental Cup champion • 2013 Continental Cup champion • 2012 U.S. national champion • 2012 U.S. national champion • Competed in several national events in (1996 Juniors, • Competed in 1988 Canadian National Championship (The Brier) 2004 Mixed) • 2007 bronze medalist, U.S. Mixed National Championship Twitter: @followtheheater Twitter: @DeanGemmell

Bill Stopera Coach: Jake Higgs Position: Vice skip Age: 45 Hometown: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Career: Insurance broker Education: Northeastern University Curling start: 1977 Curling club: Ardsley (N.Y.) Family: Married; one son, one daughter Curling highlights: • 2013 Continental Cup champion • 2012 U.S. national champion

Martin Sather Position: Second Age: 30 Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska Resides: Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. Career: Jazz musician Education: Master’s degree in jazz studies Curling start: 1992 Curling club: Ardsley Curling highlights: • 2013 Continental Cup champion • 2012 U.S. national champion • 2002 U.S. junior national champion Twitter: @MartinSather

USA Curling (( 19 Team Shuster

Team Shuster (l-r): , , Jared Zezel, and .

Dates Event Location Result

The Shoot-Out @ The Sept. 12-15 Edmonton, Alberta 5-3, semifinals Saville Centre

Sept. 27-30 PointOptical Curling Classic Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1-3

Oct. 4-6 St. Paul Cashspiel St. Paul, Minn. 5-2, semifinals

Oct. 18-21 Canad Inns Prairie Classic Portage la Prairie, Manitoba 4-3

Oct. 23-25 Bernick’s Miller Lite Open Bemidji, Minn. 5-1, runner-up

Nov. 1-3 Courtesy Freight Superspiel Thunder Bay, Ontario

Nov. 10-17 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Fargo, N.D.

20 )) usacurl.org John Shuster Jared Zezel Position: Skip Position: Second Age: 31 Age: 22 Hometown/Resides: Duluth, Minn. Hometown/Resides: Hibbing, Minn. Career: Manager at Pickwick Restaurant & Pub Career: Student at Bemidji State University Education: Bachelor’s of business administration-marketing from Curling start: the University of Minnesota-Duluth Curling club: Bemidji (Minn.) Curling start: 1997 Curling highlights: Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) • Bronze medalist at 2013 and 2012 U.S. National Championships Family: Married; one son • 2011 U.S. junior national champion Curling highlights: @JaredZezel04 • Member of 2010 and 2006 Olympic teams • 2006 Olympic bronze medalist John Landsteiner • 4-time national champion (2009, 2006, 2005, 2003) Position: Lead • 2009 USA Curling Athlete of the Year Age: 23 • 2007 World University Games gold medalist Hometown: Mapleton, Minn. • 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Year Resides: Duluth, Minn. • 2006 USA Curling Team of the Year Career: Employed with Lake Superior Consulting • 2004 U.S. junior national champion Education: Civil engineering degree, University of Minnesota-Duluth Twitter: @Shoostie2010 Curling start: 2000 Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) Jeff Isaacson Curling highlights: Position: Vice skip • Bronze medalist at 2013 and 2012 U.S. National Championships Age: 30 • 3-time Minnesota state high school champion Hometown/Resides: Gilbert, Minn. • Played for Team USA at 2011 World Juniors (alternate) Career: Science teacher Twitter: @jlandsteiner Education: Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin- Superior; Bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University Coach: Tim Muller Curling start: 1996 Curling club: Duluth (Minn.) & Curl Mesabi (Minn.) Curling highlights: • Member of 2010 Olympic team • 2009 U.S. national champion • 2007 World University Games gold medalist • 2005 U.S. junior national champion Twitter: @LaZyIkE_14

USA Curling (( 21 Team USA

Team USA (l-r): Patrick McDonald, , Jimmy Joseph, Penny Greely, and Meghan Lino.

Dates Event Location Result

Sept. 13-15 Danish International Denmark 6th place

Oct. 25-27 Halloween ‘Spiel Madison, Wis.

Nov. 9 Wauwatosa Stick ‘Spiel Wauwatosa, Wis.

Nov. 28-Dec. 1 Cathy Kerr Memorial Wheelchair ‘Spiel Ottawa, Ontario

Dec. 6-8 U.S. Open Wheelchair ‘Spiel Utica, N.Y.

March 7-16 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Sochi, Russia

22 )) usacurl.org Patrick McDonald Penny Greely Position: Skip Position: Lead Age: 46 Age: 42 Hometown: Orangevale, Calif. Hometown/Resides: Green Bay, Wis. Resides: Madison, Wis. Career: Case worker with Brown County Military: U.S. Army veteran Family: Married; one son Curling start: 2007 Curling start: 2010 Curling club: Madison (Wis.) Curling club: Green Bay, Wis. Family: Married; one son, one daughter Curling highlights: Curling highlights: • Member of Team USA at three world wheelchair championships • Member of 2010 Paralympic wheelchair curling team • Member of 2004 U.S. Paralympic team (bronze medal, • Competed in three world championships: 2013 (4th), 2012 sitting volleyball) (5th), 2009 (4th) • Gold medal - 2009 Kathy Kerr Open, Ottawa, Canada Meghan Lino • Bronze medal - 2009 Kingross Invitational, Scotland Position: Alternate Age: 29 Facts: McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran who lost the use of his Hometown/Resides: East Falmouth, Mass. legs when the armored personnel carrier he was riding in rolled Curling start: 2009 on the way back from patrol in Korea. McDonald is active in Curling club: Cape Cod, Mass. adaptive sports, playing golf, bowling and kayaking in addition Curling highlights: to wheelchair curling. McDonald hopes to win a medal at both • Member of Team USA at 2013 World Wheelchair Champi- the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. onship (4th)

David Palmer Coach: (Madison, Wis.) Position: Vice skip Assistant Coach: Rusty Schieber (Portage, Wis.) Age: 52 Team Leader: Marc Deperno (Utica, N.Y.) Hometown: Marlboro, Mass. Resides: Mashpee, Mass. Camp dates: Career: Employed with Mashpee Public Schools Oct. 10-13, Madison, Wis. Family: Married; three children Dec. 3-5, Utica, N.Y. Curling start: 2009 Jan. 2-5, Madison, Wis. Curling club: Cape Cod, Mass. Jan. 15-19, Cape Cod, Mass. Curling highlights: Feb. 6-9, Utica, N.Y. (tentative) • Member of Team USA at World Wheelchair Championship in 2013 (4th) and 2012 (5th) Organized wheelchair curling in the United States began in the 1990s in Seattle. Wheelchair curling debuted as a Paralympic James “Jimmy Jam” Joseph medal sport in 2006 in Torino, , and will mark its third Position: Second appearance in 2014 in Sochi. The U.S. has yet to medal at the Age: 51 Paralympics, after losing a heart-breaking bronze-medal game in Hometown/Resides: New Hartford, N.Y. 2010 in . The discipline debuted a world championship Family: Married; one daughter in 2002. The U.S. won its first and only medal in 2008 (bronze). Curling start: 2003 Canada is currently the defending Paralympic as well as world Curling club: Utica, N.Y. champion. Teams for wheelchair curling are mixed – composed Curling highlights: of men and women. • Member of U.S. Paralympic team in 2010 (4th) and 2006 (8th) • Member of Team USA at seven world wheelchair championships • Bronze medalist, 2008 world wheelchair championship (USA’s first and lone medal at either a world championship or Paralympic Games)

USA Curling (( 23 24 )) usacurl.org Nine teams head to Fargo for Olympic Team Trials

The 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling get underway on Saturday, Nov. 9, with an opening reception. The first round of action will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, as the five men’s teams take the ice. The five competing teams feature a plethora of Olympians and national champions, including 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Pete Fenson (Bemidji, Minn.) and two-time Olympian John Shuster (Duluth, Minn.). Reigning national champion Brady Clark (Lynnwood, Wash.), 2012 national champion Heath McCormick (Sarnia, Ontario) and 2010 national champion Tyler George (Duluth, Minn.) skip the remaining teams in contention for the possibility for the chance to represent the United States at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games. The women’s competition begins on Monday night at 7 p.m. with four teams competing, which also includes a field of Olympians. Reigning national Teammates Heath McCormick (left) champion and 1998 Olympian Erika and Dean Gemmell won the national Brown (Oakville, Ontario) comes title in 2012. in with a target on her back after a fourth-place showing at the 2013 World Women’s Championship. 2012 national champion and 2010 Courtney George (left) moved up Olympian Allison Pottinger (Eden to the skip position in 2012 and led Prairie, Minn.), 2006 Olympian her team to a runner-up finish at Cassie Potter (St. Paul, Minn.) and the 2013 National Championships. 2006 Olympian Courtney George (St. Paul, Minn.) round out the women’s field. The men’s and women’s teams will compete in a double round robin with the top two teams moving on to the playoffs. Tiebreaker game will be played, if necessary, to determine the playoff teams. The playoff format will be a best two-out-of- three competition with the winning teams being nominated for approval by the United States Olympic Committee to compete in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as members of Team USA. The men, of course, still have to earn their spot in Sochi and will take care of business at the Olympic Qualification Event Dec. 10-15 in F ssen, Sochi (See Pages 26-27).

Young Minnesotans John Landsteiner (left) and Jared Zezel will make their first appearance at the Olympic Team Trials.

USA Curling (( 25 Olympic Qualification Event

The U.S. men came up a few points short of a direct qualification berth for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games at the conclusion of the 2013 World Men’s Championship in April. Accumulated points, based on final finish, from the 2012 and 2013 world championships were used to award the first seven berths to the Olympic Games. Russia, as host, earns an automatic spot. Countries qualified to Sochi already include (based on ranking): Canada, Sweden, Scotland (represents Great Britain at Olympics), , Denmark, China, Switzerland, and Russia (host). Eight countires will be vying for the final two berths to the Olympic Games at the Olympic Qualification Event, Dec. 10-15, in F ssen, Germany. Those countries include the Czech Republic, , France, Germany, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and the U.S. The men’s team that wins the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will move on to the OQE to earn the U.S. its berth for the Olympic Games.

On the women’s side, the U.S. ladies are qualified for the Olympic Games. The eight teams qualified so far include (based on ranking): Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Canada, U.S., Russia, Denmark, and Korea. Seven countries will be competing for the final two spots: Germany, Japan, China, Italy, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Norway.

The competition schedule for the event is featured on the next page. Teams will play in a single round robin with the top three countries advancing to the playoffs. The No. 1 team will play the No. 2 ranked team with the winner earning an Olympic spot. The loser will play the No. 3 ranked team with the winning side earning the final Olympic berth.

Michigan native Heath McCormick (left) won the 2012 National Championships and clinched a berth for his team in the Trials.

26 )) usacurl.org 2013 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION EVENT

BLZ Arena, Fuessen, Germany, 10 - 15 December 2013

25-Jul-13

Training Day – Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Date Time Sheet A Sheet B Sheet C Sheet D 08:00-09:00 M NZL JPN KOR FIN 09:45-10:45 M CZE GER FRA USA Tuesday 11:00-11:20 w/M TEAM MEETING – BLZ Arena – Fuessen 10 Dec. 11:45-12:45 w jpn lat ita X 13:30-14:30 w chn ger cze nor

The Tuesday training sessions will be 15 minutes on each sheet moving from A to B to C to D. NOTE: The Umpires will control the sessions and indicate the time that the teams change sheets.

Date Time Session Sheet A Sheet B Sheet C Sheet D Monday Arrival of the teams… 9 Dec. 19:30-20:30 w/M Welcome Reception 08:00-10:45 M Team Training (see enclosed schedule) 11:00-11:20 w/M Team Meeting for all teams (BLZ Arena - Fuessen) Tuesday 11:45-14:30 w Team Training (see enclosed schedule) 10 Dec. 16:00 M1 KOR - JPN NZL - FIN USA - CZE GER - FRA 20:00 w1 ita - lat nor - cze ger - chn Bye - jpn 08:00 M2 NZL - USA GER - KOR FRA - JPN FIN - CZE Wednesday 12:00 w2 ger - cze jpn - ita lat - nor Bye - chn 11 Dec. 16:00 M3 FIN - KOR USA - FRA CZE - GER NZL - JPN 20:00 w3 jpn - nor lat - ger chn - cze Bye - ita 09:00 M4 CZE - FRA FIN - JPN NZL - KOR USA - GER Thursday 14:00 w4 Bye - ger chn - nor jpn - lat cze - ita 12 Dec. 19:00 M5 GER - NZL KOR - CZE JPN - USA FRA - FIN 08:00 w5 Bye - cze ger - jpn nor - ita lat - chn Friday 12:00 M6 JPN - CZE FRA - NZL GER - FIN KOR - USA 13 Dec. 16:00 w6 Bye - lat ita - chn cze - jpn nor - ger 20:00 M7 USA - FIN JPN - GER KOR - FRA CZE - NZL 08:00 w7 chn - jpn cze - lat ita - ger Bye - nor Saturday 12:00 w/M Tie-breaker Games (if required) 14 Dec. 16:00 w/M Tie-breaker Games (if required) 20:00 M Men - 1 v 2 (winner qualifies) 08:30 w Women - 1 v 2 (winner qualifies) Sunday 12:30 M Men - Loser (1 v 2) v 3 (winner qualifies) 15 Dec. 16:30 w Women - Loser (1 v 2) v 3 (winner qualifies) 20:30 w/M Farewell Banquet Monday Departure of the Teams – Safe Journey Home 16 Dec.

USA Curling (( 27 28 )) usacurl.org USA Curling (( 29 Other storylines

This October we will be making curling ice in Honolulu for a celebrity curling competition. The event is being backed by American Savings Bank with profits going to the Kapiolani Hospital for Women and Children in Honolulu and USA Curling. The curling fundraiser will take place Oct. 17 at The Ice Palace in Honolulu and feature 2010 Olympians Tracy Sachtjen and . Two sets of rocks have been purchased and will stay in Hawaii to help in the formation of a curling club.

The 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup will be staged for the Olympic team in Las Vegas Jan. 16-19, 2014, at the 9,500-seat Orleans Arena, on the closing weekend home to hockey’s Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. of the Cup.

This is the first time the event will be held outside of Canada, and The Cup features six first time that Las Vegas will host a curling event of this magnitude. teams from North America competing The Orleans Arena will host the 10th edition of this unique against six teams repre- international curling competition, which is similar to golf’s Ryder senting Team World Cup, and will take place just 19 days before the start of the 2014 in traditional team Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. competition, mixed doubles, singles and The teams representing the United States will be those that will skins competitions during the four-day event. The inaugural compete for the U.S. at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, event took place in 2002 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Russia. We will be planning an official Team USA sendoff party

San Francisco 49ers tight endVernon Davis returns as USA Curling’s Honorary Team Captain for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Davis plans to be in Sochi to cheer on Team USA.

The sport of curling continues to flourish. USA Curling now has member clubs in 40 U.S. states (no member clubs at the moment in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Hawaii – coming soon; Super Bowl 2014 see above story). We are proud and excited to be once again invited to be part of the Super Bowl Village. This time, we’ll take the New York City/Hoboken, N.J., area by storm for Super Bowl XLVIII. We will have a street curling dem- onstration in Hoboken for about a month starting with the lead up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 and through- out the 2014 Olympic Winter Games (Feb. 7-23).

30 )) usacurl.org Events Dates Sites

2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling Nov. 10-17 Scheels Arena, Fargo, N.D.

2014 U.S. Mixed Doubles National Championship Dec. 4-8 Medford, Wis.

2014 Olympic Qualification Event (U.S. men competing) Dec. 10-15 Fussen, Germany

2013 Winter World University Games Dec. 11-21 Trentino, Italy

2014 Nationals Challenge Round (Women) Jan. 8-12, 2014 Grafton, N.D.

2014 Nationals Challenge Round (Men) Jan. 8-12, 2014 Blaine, Minn.

2014 Continental Cup of Curling Jan. 16-19, 2014 Orleans Arena, Las Vegas

2014 U.S. Senior Men’s National Championship Jan. 22-26, 2014 Portage, Wis.

2014 U.S. Senior Men’s National Championship Jan. 23-26, 2014 Eau Claire, Wis.

2014 U.S. Junior National Championships Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2014 Seattle, Wash.

2014 Olympic Winter Games Feb. 7-23, 2014 Sochi, Russia

2014 U.S. Club National Championships Feb. 15-22, 2014 Two Harbors, Minn.

2014 World Junior Championships Feb. 26-March 5, 2014 Flims, Switzerland

2014 U.S. National Championships March 1-8, 2014 IceWorks Skating Complex, Aston, Pa.

2014 Paralympic Winter Games March 7-16, 2014 Sochi, Russia

2014 College National Championship March 14-16 Blaine, Minn.

2014 Ford World Women’s Championship March 15-23, 2014 St. John, New Brunswick

2014 U.S. Mixed National Championship March 15-23, 2014 Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

2014 Men’s World Championship March 29-April 6, 2014 Beijing, China

2014 World Mixed Doubles Championship April 22-29, 2014 Dumfries, Scotland

2014 World Senior Championships April 22-29, 2014 Dumfries, Scotland

Future events: 2015 National Championships, Kalamazoo, Mich. 2015 Junior National Championships, Devils Lake, N.D. 2015 Winter World University Games, Grenada, Spain 2015 World Women’s Championship, Sapporo, Japan 2016 Junior National Championships, Willmar, Minn. 2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, Pyeongchang, South Korea

USA Curling (( 31 FAST FACTS: Trials field

The last (and only) time the U.S. women won the world championship: 2003 (Debbie McCormick). The last time the U.S. won a world championship medal was in 2006 (silver, Debbie McCormick).

The last time the U.S. men won the world championship: 1978 (). The last time the U.S. men won a world championship medal was in 2007 (bronze, Todd Birr).

It is good to be named John: Every U.S. men’s Olympic curling team since 1998 has included someone named John. (John Shuster, 2006 & 2010; John Gordon, 1998 & 2002; John Benton, 2010)

Allison Pottinger (skip, Team Pottinger) holds the record for most U.S. national titles – 10 (includes men’s and women’s Nationals only. Does not include other U.S. national events such as mixed, juniors, etc.)

Olympians in the field: 16 Pete Fenson, 2006; John Shuster, 2010 & 2006; Shawn Rojeski, 2006; Joe Polo, 2006; Jeff Isaacson, 2010; Chris Plys, 2010; Allison Pottinger, 2010; Nicole Joraanstad, 2010; Natalie Nicholson, 2010; Erika Brown, 1998; Debbie McCormick, 1998, 2002, 2010; Ann Swisshelm, 2002; Jessica Schultz, 2006; Cassie Potter, 2006; Jamie Haskell, 2006; Courtney George, 2006

World champions in the field: 3 (Debbie McCormick, Team Brown; Allison Pottinger, Team Pottinger; Ann Swisshelm, Team Brown)

Sisters Jamie (Johnson) Haskell (left) and Cassie (Johnson) Potter led Team USA at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino. Along with teammates Jackie Lemke and Stephanie Sambor, the team finished second at the 2012 Nationals to earn a berth fot the 2014 Olympic Trials.

32 )) usacurl.org FAST FACTS: Trials field

Skips in the field who have won national titles previously: • Pete Fenson (7): 2011, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2003 (as skip); 1994, 1993 (as vice skip) • John Shuster: (4) 2009 (as skip); 2006, 2005, 2003 (as lead) • Tyler George (1): 2010 (as lead) • Heath McCormick (1): 2012 (as skip) • Brady Clark (1): 2013 (as skip)

Vice skips: • Shawn Rojeski, Team Fenson (5): 2011, 2010, 2006, 2005 (as vice skip); 2003 (as second) • Bill Stopera, Team McCormick (1): 2012 (as vice skip) • Jeff Isaacson, Team Shuster (1): 2009 (as vice skip) • Sean Beighton, Team Clark (1): 2013 (as vice skip)

Seconds: • Joe Polo, Team Fenson (4): 2011, 2010, 2006, 2005 (as second) • Martin Sather, Team McCormick (1): 2012 (as second) • Rich Ruohonen, Team George (1): 2008 (as vice skip) • Philip Tilker, Team Clark (1): 2013 (as lead)

Leads: • Dean Gemmell, Team McCormick (1): 2012 • Ryan Brunt, Team Fenson (1): 2011 • Darren Lehto, Team Clark (1): 2013 (as second)

Overall men’s national titles (does not include juniors, mixed, etc.): 1. Pete Fenson (Team Fenson), 7 2. Shawn Rojeski (Team Fenson), 5 3. John Shuster (Team Shuster) & Joe Polo (Team Fenson), 4

Pete Fenson (left) led Team USA to its first ever Olympic medal in curling at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino. Fellow Olympic bronze medalists and current teammates Shawn Rojeski (bottom, l-r) and Joe Polo have represented the U.S. at three world championships since Torino (2011, 2010, 2006).

USA Curling (( 33 FAST FACTS: Trials field

Skips in the field who have won national titles previously: • Allison Pottinger (10): 2012 (as skip); 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003 (as vice skip); 2002, 1999 (as second); 1996 (as lead); 1995 (as alternate) • Erika Brown (7): 2013, 2010 (as skip); 2004, 2002, 1999, 1996, 1995 (as vice skip) • Cassie Potter (1): 2005 (as skip)

Vice skips: • Debbie McCormick, Team Brown (8): 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003 (as skip); 2001 (as vice skip); 1996 (as alternate) • Nicole Joraanstad, Team Pottinger (7): 2012 (as vice skip); 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 (as second); 2002 (as alternate) • Jamie Haskell, Team Potter (1): 2005 (as vice skip)

Seconds: • Natalie Nicholson, Team Pottinger (8): 2012 (as second); 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000 (as lead) • Jessica Schultz, Team Brown (3): 2013, 2011, 2005 (as second)

Leads: • Ann Swisshelm, Team Brown (5): 2013 (as lead); 2010, 2003 (as second); 2001, 1998 (as lead) • Tabitha Peterson, Team Pottinger (1): 2012

Overall women’s Nationals titles (does not include junior, mixed, etc.): 1. Allison Pottinger (Team Pottinger), 10 2. Debbie McCormick (Team Brown) & Natalie Nicholson (Team Pottinger), 8 3. Nicole Joraanstad (Team Pottinger) & Erika Brown (Team Brown), 7 4. Ann Swisshelm (Team Brown), 5 5. Jessica Schultz (Team Brown), 3

Courtney George (left) was just 20 when she served as alternate for Team USA at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Now leading her own team, George is the youngest skip in the 2014 Olympic Trials field at age 27.

34 )) usacurl.org FAST FACTS: Trials field

Athletes in the field who won junior national titles (21 and under): • Erika Brown, Team Brown (6): 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1989 (as skip); 1988 (as vice skip) • Debbie McCormick,Team Brown (4): 1994 (as vice skip); 1993, 1991 (as lead); 1992 (as alternate) • Cassie Potter, Team Potter (2): 2003, 2002 (as skip) • Natalie Nicholson, Team Pottinger (2): 1997, 1995 (as second) • Nicole Joraanstad, Team Pottinger (2): 2001 (as skip); 2000 (as vice skip) • Tabitha Peterson, Team Pottinger (2): 2010, 2009 (as vice skip) • Aileen Sormunen, Team George (2): 2007, 2004 (as skip) • Courtney George, Team George (2): 2007, 2004 (as vice skip) • Jordan Moulton, Team George (2): 2007, 2006 (as lead) • Jamie Haskell, Team Potter (1): 2002 (as vice skip) • Chris Plys, Team George (5): 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 (as skip); 2003 (as alternate) • Shawn Rojeski, Team Fenson (2): 1992, 1991 (as vice skip) • Colin Hufman, Team George (1): 2002 (as vice skip) • Martin Sather, Team McCormick (1): 2002 (as second) • John Shuster, Team Shuster (1): 2004 (as skip) • Jeff Isaacson, Team Shuster (1): 2005 (as second) • Jared Zezel, Team Shuster (1): 2011 (as second) • Sean Beighton, Team Clark (1): 2010 (as skip) • Stephanie Sambor, Team Potter (1): 2005 (as lead) • Jackie Lemke, Team Potter (1): 2006 (as second) • Allison Pottinger, Team Pottinger (1): 1994 (as alternate) • Amanda McLean, Team George (1): 2004 (as lead)

Other national titles: • Brady Clark, mixed championship (9): 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002 (as skip); mixed doubles championship (3): 2012, 2011, 2009 (all as skip) • Philip Tilker, mixed championship (3): 2011, 2010, 2011 (as second) • Allison Pottinger, mixed championship (2): 1998, 1995 (as vice skip) • Erika Brown, mixed championship (1): 2000 (as vice skip) • Jamie Haskell, mixed doubles championship (1): 2008 (as skip) • Sean Beighton, mixed championship (1): 2012 (as second) • Darren Lehto, mixed championship (1): 2005 (as second)

Other facts: • Oldest male athlete in the field: Dean Gemmell, 46 • Oldest female athlete in the field: Ann Swisshelm, 45 • Youngest athletes in the field: Tabitha Peterson, 24, Team Pottinger, & Jared Zezel, 22, Team Shuster • Youngest male skip: John Shuster, 30 • Youngest female skip: Courtney George, 27 • Average age of male athletes in field: 34 • Average age of female athletes in field: 32

Family Ties Siblings: • Tyler George (Team T. George) and Courtney George (Team C. George) • Cassie Potter & Jamie Haskell (Team Potter)

USA Curling (( 35 Olympic History

The first Olympic demonstration was in 1924, in Chamonix, France, where men’s teams from England, France and Sweden competed. England won the gold, and Sweden the silver. Games at this time were 18 ends long versus 10 today. This event was most recently recognized as the first time curling was an Olympic medal sport. However, the sport would not have full medal status again until the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Curling was next a demonstration sport in 1932, in Lake Placid, N.Y. Eight men’s teams competed–four from Canada and four from the United States. The U.S. teams came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York. Canada won the round robin competition, taking 12 games to the USA’s four. Games were 16 ends long.

After a long absence, curling returned to the Olympics as an official demonstration in 1988, in Calgary, Canada. For the first time, a women’s competition was included. Canada won the women’s event, followed by Sweden and Norway. On the men’s side, Norway took the gold, followed by Switzerland and Canada. (Bronze medals were awarded to the team that lost in the playoffs to the eventual champion.) The U.S. men’s and women’s teams both finished fourth.

Curling was again part of the Olympic demonstration sport program in 1992, in Albertville, France. This time, Germany won the women’s gold, followed by Norway and Canada. A bronze medal game was held, with Canada defeating Denmark. Switzerland took the men’s championship, with Norway earning the silver medal and the USA defeating Canada for the bronze medal. The USA’s team included Bud Somerville, Mike Strum, Bill Strum and Tim Somerville, all from Superior, Wis. (The U.S. women failed to earn a berth in the Olympic competition in 1992.)

In Salt Lake City in 2002, curling was a medal sport on the Olympic program for the third time. The U.S. men, led by Tim Somerville, finished seventh, while the women’s team, skipped by , missed a bronze medal by just a few rocks. The Pete Fenson rink based out of Bemidji, Minn., won U.S. curling’s first Olympic medal when the team defeated Great Britain to win the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. The U.S. women’s team, led by Cassie Johnson, struggled in its opening games and finished eighth overall. Canada’s rink would capture the men’s elusive gold medal defeating Finland, while the team from Sweden added to its collection of medals by defeating Switzerland for the gold.

In 2010 at the Olympic Games in Vancouver, 2006 Olympic bronze medalist John Shuster and three-time Olympian Debbie McCormick (1998, 2002, 2010) skipped their teams at the 5,000-seat Vancouver Olympic Center. It was a tough week as the teams battled through the round robin. Unfortunately, both would finish in 10th place and out of playoff contention. Canada’s rink would capture the men’s gold over Norway’s . On the women’s side, Sweden’s Anette Norberg rink came from behind to overtake Canada’s Cheryl Bernard to repeat as women’s Olympic champions. In the bronze-medal matches, Switzerland’s Ralph Stoeckli outlasted Sweden’s in the men’s game while China won its first Olympic medal in curling when Bingyu Wang defeated Switzerland’s .

Curling was officially a demonstration sport three times, but there Team Tyler George grew its fan base after donning these were also “domestic exhibitions” (host country participants only) in memorable tiger uniforms at the 2013 National Championships. 1948 (St. Moritz, Switzerland) and 1964 (Innsbruck, Austria).

36 )) usacurl.org Places to Curl

Curling opportunities exist for males and females of all age groups. Twenty-four-pound “junior stones” are available for younger children to use. The game has equal appeal as both a social outlet and a competitive sport.

Recreational curling competitions, called “bonspiels,” are organized for men, women, couples, seniors and juniors. Local clubs have regular leagues for these same constituencies. “Open” events feature curlers of all ages and both genders competing in one competition.

Curlers come from all walks of life, and value the special camaraderie integral to the sport.

Curling is played in 40 states across the United States. It is a winter sport, but it is being played more and more in warmer climates with the growth of indoor ice facilities.

There are approximately 16,000 curlers in the U.S., and 165 clubs across the U.S. Wisconsin has the largest concentration of curlers, with nearly 4,000, while the Grand National region along the East Coast now boasts close to 4,000 as well from its member clubs while Minnesota reports around 3,500. There also are substantial clubs in the Great Lakes region, Seattle and Fairbanks, Alaska, and even in Florida with the Panthers Curling Club in Coral Springs debuting in 2010, thanks to the TV expsoure the sport received on NBC during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The fastest growing areas in the past 10 years have been the Mountain Pacific region in the west and the Great Lakes region in the upper Midwest. California, a member of the MoPac region, now has five active curling clubs.

Curling is mostly concentrated in countries with colder climates. Canada has the most curlers of all, with nearly 1.2 million of the estimated 1.5 million in the world. Only four other countries have more than 10,000 curlers—Japan, Scotland, Switzerland and the USA. The 49 countries

USA Curling’s membership has grown 47 percent between 2002 and 2012 from 10,800 members to close to 16,000 with clubs now represented in 40 of 50 U.S. states.Regional To find a U.S. Curling club, visit www.usacurl.org. Associations

Alaska

Wash. ME MT ND

OR VT NH ID Dakota Minn. SD Wisc. NY MA MI CT RI Mountain Pacific WY IA PA NJ Nebraska OH NV IN DE UT Illinois MD CA WV MO Great Lakes VA Colorado KS KY NC HI A t - L a r g e TN AZ NM OK AR Grand NationalSC

GA AL MS

TX LA

FL

USA Curling (( 37 INTRODUCTION TO CURLING

What is curling? The Game Curling is a team game, where all four team members’ A game is made up of 10 ends (like innings). An end efforts contribute directly to each shot. Teams can be consists of each team member shooting (delivering) two composed of both sexes and all ages, and like golf, curling rocks, or stones, alternately with the opponent’s player at is a lifetime sport. the same position. When all 16 rocks have been delivered, A curler at any skill level, like a golfer, finds that his or her the score for that end is determined. skills decline only gradually from about age 45 onward. A A 12-foot circle (the “house”) is the scoring area. For each national class curler, like the pro golfer, realizes that once stone closer to the center of the circles (the tee) than any of the physical aspects are mastered, the mental aspect of the opponent’s, one point is scored. The team scoring shoots the game separates the good player from the champion. first in the next end, giving the opponent the “hammer,” or To continue with the golf analogy, it can be said that the last shot of that end. Teams will sometimes ignore taking curler who is at the height of his or her game has the same a point to retain the next end’s hammer. edge as the golfer who is sinking the key putts: great nerves, The sheet of ice (playing surface) is 16’ 5” wide and 150 will to win, and mental toughness. feet long, set up to accommodate play in both directions. Most curling takes place in curling clubs, which commonly Historical and Descriptive Notes have two to six sheets of ice. Hockey arenas are also used It is generally agreed that curling was developed in Scotland as temporary curling rinks; they accommodate up to six in the 16th century. The climate in Scotland was colder sheets. then, and curling took place on the many marshes (since All four players shoot two rocks per end, beginning with drained). Scottish farmers curled on the frozen marshes the player referred to as the “lead.” The “second” shoots using “channel stones,” which were naturally smoothed next, and then the “third,” or “vice skip.” The skip usually by the water’s action. The principles of the game were shoots the last rocks, and calls the strategy for the game. similar to the modern game, although there were many The skip decides on shot selection, and “reads” the curl differences in rules and equipment. in the ice for the shooter. The shooter must be accurate The spirit of curling evolved in the early centuries in in three functions: Scotland. It is this spirit of honorable competition followed 1. Aim (at the broom) by egalitarian sociality that made curling a special game 2. “Weight” (velocity imparted to the stone) in curlers’ minds. An excerpt from “The Spirit of Curling:” 3. Imparting the correct “handle” (curl) to each shot “Curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents. Shots are called either to stop at a certain point on the A true curler would prefer to lose rather than win unfairly sheet (“draws” or “guards”) or to have enough weight to ... while the main object of the game is to determine the strike another rock out of play (“takeouts” or “hit and rolls”). relative skill of the players, the spirit of the game demands Each running stone curls, or curves, as it proceeds down the good sportsmanship, kindly feeling, and honorable conduct.” ice based on the twist given the handle during the delivery. Scottish immigrants brought the game with them to North The amount of curl varies based on the ice surface and the America, first to Canada around 1759, then to the United speed of the rock. The curl allows for better control of the States around 1832. By 1855, curling clubs flourished in stone and also provides a means to shoot around guards. New York City, Detroit, Milwaukee and Portage, Wis. Curling in the rest of Europe developed in the 20th century. Sweeping—with either a straw broom, hog hair or horse Two developments ensured that the modern game would hair brush, or synthetic brush—adds the element of fitness be marked by a high degree of physical skill and mental to curling because, to be effective, sweeping must be very toughness: vigorous. Sweeping slightly melts the ice, which reduces 1. the standardization of the stone, and the friction between the running stone and the ice. The 2. indoor, refrigerated ice. result is that the stone will curl less, and slide farther. The modern stone is round, and about 42 pounds. Curling Sweeping is called for when the stone has not been delivered is played, for the most part, on indoor, refrigerated ice, firmly enough, and/or when the shot is aimed “narrow,” or which helps ensure a fast, consistent and predictable inside the broom target. Sweeping can help a rock slide up playing surface. to an additional 15 feet. Top teams control most shots by using aim and weight “within the sweeping zone.”

38 )) usacurl.org Strategy is a major part of curling. Shots are played with an eye to the last rocks of each end, not simply placed at the center of the circles. The strategy can be rather complex. Innovations are constantly being made and adopted when the innovators win, similar to other sports where strategy and the game plan plays a major role. It is common for games between national-class teams to be very close, with both skips jockeying for the last shot in the last end. In curling, all four players of a team are involved in each of their team’s shots. While the skip, or captain, holds his or her broom for a target and calls the strategy for the shooter, the other two players sweep the stone’s path when deemed necessary. Sweeping clears the ice of any frost or debris that might slow the stone down or send it off course. Sweeping also polishes the ice, creating a thin layer of moisture that reduces friction and allows the rock to go farther and straighter (up to 15 feet farther with vigorous sweeping). The “sweepers” are in the best position to judge whether or not the delivered stone has enough momentum to reach its target, while the person in the house can best judge the line and call for sweeping if the stone is curling too much.

Equipment Clothing: Loose fitting, several layers, sweaters, pants, kilts, caps. Matching uniforms for many competitions. Shoes: Special curling shoes are common but not manda- tory. Shoes should grip the ice well for walking. Smooth soles are easy to clean to minimize dirt on the ice. For the delivery, extremely slippery surfaces such as Teflon are used on the sliding foot to generate a long, smooth-sliding follow through. Some “sliders” are built into shoes, while others are strapped on over the sole. Broom: Commercially manufactured for curling. The straw brooms, synthetic brushes, and short bristled brushes are all effective. Stones: Made of a rare, close and evenly grained granite quarried primarily on Scotland’s Ailsa Craig, with handles attached. Standardized, weighing 42 pounds, and provided by the curling clubs.

USA Curling (( 39 40 )) usacurl.org