IN THE NEWS
Curling on TV in the U.S.? You bet!
By Terry L. Kolesar, Editor C
urling Night in America debuted on NBCSN on Jan. 23 and has been get- ting very favorable ratings so far.
Te production, which includes 24 hours of
coverage from the inaugural U.S. Curling Grand Prix, is a partnership between the World Curl- ing Federation, U.S. Curling Association, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Te event took place in December at the Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, Minn. NBCSN is airing six Friday night episodes,
concluding in March. In addition, NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – is providing streaming coverage of all Curling Night In America telecasts airing on NBCSN. Universal Sports Network also is showing cover- age.
“Curling has one of the most passionate fan
bases in all of sports, and has developed a cult following as a result of our Winter Olympics broadcasts,” said Gary Quinn, NBC vice presi- dent, Programming. “Just as Wednesday night has become ‘Rivalry Night’ for our NHL tele- casts, and ‘Sunday Night is Football Night,’ we want viewers saying, ‘Friday Night is Curling Night.’” Te remaining three shows will air at 11 p.m.
ET on NBCSN on Feb. 20, March 6 and March 20.
Te U.S. rinks are led by 2012 national cham-
pion Heath McCormick (Sarnia, Ontario) and reigning U.S. women’s champion Nina Roth
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
event includes a number of activities for which student groups (like fraternities, resident halls, and other campus groups) participate and earn points in competitions that are totaled to declare a Winter Carnival winner. Several years ago, the local club offered open use of its facility to the Winter Carnival organizers for the addition of a curling event. Curling became one of the most popular Winter Carnival sports. Annually about 50 teams compete in four divisions on two week- ends. For most students, this is their first curl-
Marcia Tillisch Marcia (Pekar) Tillisch (above), 51, died Nov.
(McFarland, Wis.). World Curling TV produced the coverage
from Blaine, and Carr-Hughes Productions of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., packaged the programs for NBCSN and Universal Sports Network. “It is amazing to see what can be accomplished
when so many different groups work together to- ward a shared goal and no one cares who gets the credit,” said Rick Patzke, interim CEO for USA Curling. “Tis event and the ensuing television programs are the culmination of all-out effort and support from NBC, the World Curling Fed- eration and its member nations, the United States Olympic Committee, Fogerty Arena and Four Seasons Curling Club, USA Curling staff and na- tional team program athletes and coaches, and the other competing nations. Te benefits from this are exponential to the competing athletes as well as curling clubs around the country seizing upon the promotional opportunities.” n
ing experience. Many come back the next year as regular curlers in the MTUCC. Dorm and frater- nity/sorority parties are also a great way to bring potential new curlers onto the ice, as are school -specific Learn to Curl sessions. We hope that these articles have helped give
you some ideas of how to start, grow, and main- tain a college curling program in your area. If you ever have any questions regarding college curling in general or the USA Curling College Championship, feel free to check out our website
www.collegecurlingusa.org or email me at info@
collegecurlingusa.org. n
20, 2014, following an operation to remove a brain tumor. Marcia attended the University of Iowa on a
golf scholarship. As newlyweds, Marcia and Cal won the Wisconsin State Husband/Wife Golf Championship. But, it was curling that led her to world class status as a member of the 1995 U.S. women’s world team. (Marcia was also a member of the 1991 and 1993 Mixed National champion rinks.) At the Brandon Worlds in 1995, Marcia was the top-ranked lead, shooting 85 percent, three points higher than the next ranked lead, from Canada, and seven points ahead of the rest of the field. Over three decades, Marcia also supported lo-
cal curling as an active Wausau Curling Club vol- unteer, actively recruiting and instructing new curlers, serving as a club director and as presi- dent of the Wausau Highlanders women’s group. “She taught many hundreds of new curlers, in- cluding me,” said Jeff Stubbe, Wausau Curling Club president. Marcia is survived by her husband of 26 years,
Cal Tillisch, and sister Susan Peloquin. Marcia graduated from Wausau East High
School in 1981. Te family encourages those wishing to honor Marcia’s memory to donate to a new permanent scholarship fund for East high school curlers going on to post high school edu- cation. Tose wishing to donate may mail their donation to 816 3rd St., Wausau, WI 54403, with checks payable to “Goyke, Tillisch & Higgins, LLP Trust Account.”
– David Garber USA Curling (( 9 // IN MEMORIAM
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