CHAMPIONSHIPS Sandra was one of the few Canadian athletes who was simply known as


“Sandra” from coast to coast in Canada. T e only other fi rst-name athletes from Canada in the 1990s were “Mario” Lemieux and “Wayne” as in Gretz- ky, who is also a self-proclaimed curling afi cionado. “Team Schmirler just oozed TEAM! T ey exuded an aura of confi dence


and professionalism. And, they were always laughing together,” Brown said. Schoeneberg captured Sandra’s essence very simply but accurately: “She


was always smiling, friendly but a very fi erce competitor on the ice.” Sandra oſt en said behind closed doors and mikes, “Our philosophy was to defeat the other teams with kindness and execution.” Advice to any player or team seeking to become an Olympian? Remember Lisa has competed in two Olympics (1988 when it was a dem-


onstration sport and in 1998) and has been a consultant in the inner circle at two more (2002 and 2006). She has talked to many Olympians of vari- ous sports who have medaled or had their hearts broken along the journey. Schoeneberg says that what so many high performance athletes say, but when one sits down and contemplates the power of her words, the following is good advice for everyday living: “Never give up on your dreams. T e only way to accomplish this is by working very hard and knowing it is always possible.” Brown articulates her thoughts as she reminisced about the Olympic jour-


ney: “I have learned that the journey must be the most important part of competitive curling. If you can’t fi nd joy in the process: in the practicing, in the goal setting and training, in your teammates and travel –then it is not worth it. T e bonds that I have with my former and current curling team- mates over the last 25 years is the most important thing I have won as a curling athlete. “With Nagano being the fi rst time that curling was a medal sport in


the Olympics [sic] it gave me great pride to present our sport to the world. We already knew how challenging and amazing the sport of curling was. We had been breathing curling our whole lives. But to share it with the entire world, people who had never seen the sport before or hadn’t been exposed to the nuances of the game, was an honor. Of course, being part of a larger team- Team USA and having the support of a nation behind you is incred- ible.” T e year 1998 is a historic memory for this outstanding curling team, but


… it also may have laid a foundation for the 2014 Olympic Games in So- chi, Russia. Brown and McCormick have re-joined forces and are striving to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2013. Brown has taken over the skipping reigns with McCormick playing third. 2006 Olympian Jessica Schultz is the second and 2002 Olympian Ann Swisshelm throws lead stones. T ey have curled in two World Curling Tour events north of the border so far this season, going two for two – winning the Ontario Curling Tour Bonspiel in Oakville, Ontario, and the Kitchener/Waterloo Fall Classic in Kitchener, Ontario. Brown’s desire to be on a team that “oozes chemistry” is well under way.


T e experiences and lessons of 1998 will defi nitely have them in the hunt. Cheryl Bernard, 2010 Olympic silver medalist, says, “T is is a team worth watching over the next couple of years, as they will be a defi nite medal threat if they qualify out of the U.S. T is is one dangerous team with players who are experienced and mentally tough.” ■ Editor’s note: This is the fi rst in a series of articles by new U.S. Curling News contributing writer, Guy Scholz. Scholz is author of three curling books – “Gold on Ice: The Story of the Sandra Schmirler Curling Team,” “Between the Sheets: Creating Curling Champions” with Cheryl Ber- nard,” and “Between the Sheets: The Silver Lining” also with Bernard. A native of Canada, Scholz recently moved to Colorado to write the biography of the NHL’s Tim Thomas, who won the Stanley Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins. Scholz curls at the Broadmoor Curling Club.


20 usacurl.org ))


season . Get your entire team to register early and you can save up to $40. Each team member will receive a $10 discount for getting their entry in prior to two weeks (14 days) before the event deadline (listed below). Take advantage of early discount and get yourself registered early. Regis-


Register early and save A


By Dawn Leurquin, USA Curling Event Services Manager


lthough a couple of USA Curling national championship event deadlines have already passed, there are still three more on tap this


tering is easy. Just head to the USA Curling website at www.usacurl.org and click on the “Register for Playdowns” link. Create an account if you don’t already have one, and click on “register.” Only events that you are eligible to register for will show up on the list that is generated. Sign up today and benefi t through this off er. ■


Event Registration Deadline


Junior Nationals Dec. 12 Club Nationals Mixed


Jan. 9 Jan. 23


Early Discount Deadline Nov. 28 Dec. 26 Jan. 9


rocket exhaust


Top 10 Extremely Suspicious Behaviors Exhibited By Two of Your Mixed Playdown teammates, "Ace and Mary Dee" (AKA "The Ambiguously Mixed Doubles Curling Duo." – Ace/Mary Dee: What's Everybody looking at? – Teammates/bystanders (in unison): NOTHING!)


10] Will insist on playing a freeze to the back button on the very fi rst shot of each and every end, even though you repeatedly point out to them that there are absolutely no rocks in play.


9] Have been known to throw an outright “hissy fi t” at just the mere mention of bringing in a substitute player.


8] Always screwing up the team’s hotel reservations by only booking “two single rooms” while on the road.


7] Never seem to quite grasp the concept that teams are not allowed to change up their shooting order between ends.


6] Appear to be greatly perplexed by the notion that anyone would want to match more than 5 of the 8 stones per set during the pre-event practice.


5] Often times overhead mumbling about team strategy being negatively impacted by the lack of something called “a positioned stone” on the sheet.


4] Seem to think that it’s perfectly normal to throw takeouts without the benefi t of any sweepers.


3] Invariably will attempt to shake hands after the conclusion of eight ends even though it’s a 10 end game.


2] Every so often, one of them tries to intentionally throw three of your team’s stones in a row.


1] Can’t stop bragging about that perfect “Six Ender” that they scored way back when.


by Richard Maskel


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