SWEEPING TO SOCHI USA Curling 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: OLYMPIC GAMES 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, WHEELCHAIR CURLING 22-23 About USA Curling The United States Curling Association (doing business as USA Curling) is the National 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 World Curling Federation 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: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ pages/USA-Curling/107975609011 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/terryk6276 Twitter: @terry_usacurl USA Curling (( 3 Team Brown Team Brown (l-r): Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick, Jessica Schultz, and Ann Swisshelm. 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 Edmonton, Alberta 3-3 Sept. 19-22 Shorty Jenkins Classic Brockville, Ontario 1-4 Oct. 11-14 Calgary 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: Skip 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): Monica Walker, Amanda McLean, Aileen Sormunen, and Courtney George. 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 Minnesota 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,