CHAMPIONSHIPS


USA women put bronze finish on curling season American ladies finish third,


men fourth at 2014 World Senior Championships in Scotland


By Terry Kolesar, Editor


at the 2014 World Senior Curling Championships in Dumfries, Scotland. “We’re very excited. We’ve been here a couple of years and we’ve yet to


A


do this (win a medal),” Smith said aſter the win. “We worked hard; we just needed to stay tough. We were reading the ice well and the girls were throw- ing the rocks really well so patience was the key.” Smith’s teammates in- clude Norma O’Leary (Silver Bay, Minn.), Debbie Dexter (St. Paul, Minn.), and Shelly Kosal (Edgerton, Wis.). Tey are coached by Jim Dexter (St. Paul, Minn.). Te U.S. men, led by Jeff Wright (Libertyville, Ill.), came up short in their


quest to join the American women on the podium at the Dumfries Ice Bowl aſter a 6-3 loss to Australia in the other bronze medal game. Scotland’s Christine Cannon defeated Canada’s Colleen Pinkney on the last rock, 6-5, to win the gold medal. Tis was the second gold at this event for Scot- land, who previously won in 2005. In the men’s gold medal game, Canada’s Wayne Tallon defeated Sweden’s Connie Oestlund, 7-2, to continue the Ca- nadian dominance at this event. Canadian men have now won the title nine times since the event began in 2002. “Tey just had better luck and played a better game than we did,” Wright


said aſter the loss. “It was an exciting tournament; it’s a lot of fun to compete at this level. It’s a worldwide tournament and my thanks to Dumfries and the World Curling Federation for making this just a great event.” Wright (Libertyville, Ill.) and his team of Russ Armstrong (Lake Bluff,


Ill.), Jim Wilson (Chicago), Russ Brown (Lake Forest, Ill.), and Nils Johans- son (Highland Park, Ill.) lost to Canada in the semifinals, 5-4, while the U.S.


ſter two previous attempts, Margie Smith is a world medalist. Smith (St. Paul, Minn.) and the U.S. ladies defeated Sweden’s Ingrid Meldahl rink, 8-3, to win the bronze medal on April 30


ladies took eventual winner Scotland to an extra end before losing 5-4 to set up the bronze-medal appearances. Much like most of the week, the U.S. ladies got off to a strong start to the


bronze-medal game scoring a deuce in the opening end. Aſter holding the Swedish ladies, who have won a medal in nearly every appearance at this event, to a single point in the second end, the U.S. again scored two points. A steal of one point in the fourth gave the Americans a comfortable lead at the halfway point at 5-1. Te teams exchanged deuces as the second half developed. Another steal by the U.S. ladies in the seventh end sealed up the bronze medal win for Smith’s team. “You realize that it’s any team, any day. You just go out there and we were


pretty confident in the second year that we were going to be up there. We struggled a little bit, but it’s all about finishing and we did that this week,” Smith said. In contrast, the American men never had the lead against Australia’s


Hugh Millikin rink. Tied 3-3 aſter four ends, Australia scored three points in the sixth end and the U.S. could not catch up on the scoreboard, eventu- ally running out of rocks as Australia handled the defense well. Tis was the third bronze medal win for the Aussies at this event. USA's Joyance Meechai (New York City) and Steve Gebauer ( Mendota


Heights, Minn.) represented the U.S. in the 2014 World Mixed Doubles Championship, also held at the Ice Bowl in Dumfries. Te team finished 3-4 in their international debut. To find out more, read the full story in the bonus pages of May 2014 digitial edition. n Line scores: Gold medal (men): *Canada Sweden


USA men *Australia


202 120 xx – 7 010 001 xx – 2


Gold medal (women): Scotland *Canada


Bronze medal games: Sweden


*USA women


000 110 22 – 6 021 002 00 – 5


010 020 0x – 3 202 102 1x – 8


Semifinals: USA women *Scotland


*Canada USA men


010 200 0x – 3 201 003 0x – 6


010 101 01 0 – 4 001 020 101 – 5


010 201 01 – 5 001 020 10 – 4


*last rock in first end The future of the USCA – In the beginning By James Pleasants, USCA President


contribute to building a national curling organization that enhances our sport. Let us challenge ourselves to take what is the best of curling – the uni-


T


versal acceptance of people from all walks of life, the integrity of charac- ter and sportsmanship and the enthusiasm, passion and commitment we have for curling – and combine it with what are the right and necessary things to do in order to create value and sustained competitive success both on and off the ice. As a beginning, we are all encouraged to attend and participate in the Members’ Assembly planned this October. Tis Assembly is intended to


here are many challenges ahead for the United States Curling Association (USCA) as we transition and implement the gov- ernance structural changes. All of us have the opportunity to


be a celebration of curling and curlers with social events, programs and seminars on a variety of topics as well as an opportunity to communicate with the Board, the staff and others in the curling world. Tis will also be an important opportunity to participate in grassroots committees that will work with staff on activities that affect ordinary curlers. I am committed to selecting sites for the Members’ Assembly and the in-


person Board meetings that will reflect the national character of the USCA. Tese sites will be changed from meeting to meeting to encourage curlers from across the nation to attend and become of service to the sport of curl- ing, as well as letting the USCA know how we can best serve their interests. Te governance structural changes are but the tools by which we all may


collectively build the USCA into the No. 1 member-supported national curling association in the world. Let us use these tools wisely for the long- term best interest for all of the curling community. n


USA Curling (( 7


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