The 72nd USWCA National Bonspiel wound up yesterday here with Centerville, Wisconsin taking the overall title and the Granite team of Cindy Garzina, Karen Brattesani, Christie Guttler, and Cathie Tomlinson winning the third event.
Jeff Plush, a 25-year sport and live entertainment industry veteran, is the new CEO of USA Curling. As a highly visible senior executive for multiple organizations, Plush served as the first Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Previously, Plush was the Managing Director of the Colorado Rapids Soccer Club and the Director of Corporate Development for a company that represented many Olympic athletes.
Fred Maxie, Em Good, Mac Guy, and Fran Walsh took the State Mixed title by defeating Alexander Couckuyt, Mari Torii-Karch, Lennox Weiner, and Meghan Taylor in a best of three championship.
Congratulations to all of the 5 and Under Curlers who participated in this year’s spiel. This event is one of our favorite and signature events of the year, as we very much enjoy seeing all of our newer curlers learning more about this great sport! We admire how spirited, passionate and motivated everyone was, and appreciate everyone for bringing their A game with regard to costumes. Everyone really “rocked” the music festival theme!
In the Washington Club Championships, Joel Larway, Doug Kauffman, Darren Lehto, and Peter Sommer cruised to the Men's title while Miyo Konno, Aryn Grause, Berit Tomten, and Ashley Duranleau took the Women's.
February 8-15, the 2020 USA Curling Nationals are on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney, about 20 minutes from Spokane. The Nationals need lots of help putting on this event where men and women curlers vie for spots to the world championships. This is their call for volunteers
After dropping the first game, Connor Kauffman, Alexander Couckuyt, Andrew Bell, and Arjun Thomas came back with three straight to win the U-18 Boys' spot in the U-18/Senior State Championships. The girls' spot was uncontested and went to Arianna Rauliuk, Allison R Tan, Abigail Lin, Mari Torii-Karch, and Faye Alesse. Both go on to the National Championships March 17 - 22, 2020 in Wausau, Wisconsin
The All American Bonspiel resulted in 24 ladies sharing curling stories, an awareness of the role of the USWCA and meeting new women curlers of our club. A true spirit of curling! Congratulations to team "Stars" the winners of the event who received the USWCA All American pins. Team "Stars" was Marj Yalowicki, Kara McBroom, Suzanne Sowinska and Faye Alesse.
Thanks to Todd Schultz for taking care of the food.
The first ever Knock the Dust Off Spiel is in the books and it was a rousing success on all accounts. This spiel was designed as a direct response to the findings from the bonspiel participation and team formation research study last year. With 80 participants curling 80 games in 16 draws there was plenty of curling for all.
