CHAMPIONSHIPS //
Connecticut rink wins 2013 Mixed Championship title
// 2013 MIXED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP By Terry L. Kolesar, Editor
C
onnecticut’s Derek Surka rink captured the 2013 USA Curling Mixed National Championship title with a 10-4 victory over Wisconsin’s Sean Murray on March 23 in Willmar, Minn.
T is is the fi rst mixed national championship title for Surka (New Ha-
ven, Conn.) and teammates Charrissa Lin (New Haven, Conn.), Nate Clark (Nashua, N.H.) and Rebecca Andrew (Henrietta, N.Y.) and the fi rst for the Nutmeg Curling Club in Bridgeport, Conn. T is is just the second mixed title for the Grand National Curling Club Region, which the team was rep- resenting – and fi rst title since 1996. “We played very well during the game and were able to take advantage
of a Wisconsin miss in the fi rst to take control,” said Surka, 41, a rocket scientist who was born in Ontario. “T ere were times later in the game that we thought we may have leſt openings for them to get back in it, but we were always able to shut them down. We were very happy to be able to close out a strong week with the championship win. T ere were many worthy teams so the victory is all that more meaningful.” T e Surka rink started the game strong with three points in the opening
end of play. T ey followed up with a single steal in the fourth end. Murray and teammates Heather Betzhold (Hartland, Wis.), Mike Graziano (Lans- dale, Pa.) and Paige Caulum (Middleton, Wis.) were held to a single in the third end and had to play catch-up the rest of the way. Connecticut earned a single in the fourth but stole another point in the fi ſt h end to lead 6-1 at the halfway mark. Wisconsin put two points on the scoreboard in the sixth end but was un- able to stop Connecticut from scoring more points in the rest of the second
2013 USA Curling Mixed National Championship winners (l-r) Derek Surka, Charrissa Lin, Nate Clark, and Rebecca Andrew.
half as Surka’s team concluded the match with a dominant three points in the ninth end to wrap up their fi rst mixed title. “Willmar did a tremendous job hosting the event. It was the best playing
conditions that we’ve seen in our seven national events. T e hospitality was just as impressive,” Surka said. North Dakota’s Kelby Smith (Minot, N.D.) was unable to play in the
bronze-medal game due to a family issue so Washington was awarded the bronze medals due to the forfeit. Team Washington includes Lyle Sieg (Ta- coma, Wash.), Miyo Konno (Monroe, Wash.), Steve Lundeen (Seattle), and Jennifer Westhagen (Seattle). T e 2014 USA Curling Mixed National Championship will take place
March 15-22, 2014, at a site to be named this fall. ■ // EIGHT ENDERS Capital Curling Club
T e Buresh Rink scored an eight-ender on Nov. 19, 2012, at the Capital
Curling Club in Bismarck, N.D. Dan Buresh (skip), Roxanne Howes (vice), Kelly Rixen (second), and Leslie Watson (lead) were playing a team com- prised entirely of rookie curlers. In the seventh end, they saw the oppor- tunity for an eight-ender and were able to capitalize on it. T eir opponents handled the situation with sportsmanship and good humor, subsequently renaming themselves the “8-Enders.” Dakota Curling Club
T e Ellarby Rink consisting of Darcy Ellarby (skip), Paul Ellarby (vice),
Eric Lundquist (second), and Beth Lundquist (lead) scored an eight-ender at the Dakota Curling Club in Burnsville, Minn. It occurred on Sept. 25, 2012, during the fi ſt h annual Pirate Bonspiel. ■
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