HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM National team


members announced for upcoming season


By Terry L. Davis, Editor, terry.davis@usacurl.org F


orty-five athletes have received and accepted invitations to be a part of USA Curling’s High Performance Program (HPP) for the 2016-17 season.


On the heels of a productive season by USA’s athletes on the World Curl-


ing Tour and at international competitions, the HPP will expand to six adult teams and four junior teams for the upcoming season. As part of the selection process, an athlete combine was held for the


third consecutive year to evaluate athletes being considered for the pro- gram. Tirty-four athletes were invited to the combine, which took place May 21-23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Site for curling at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minn. Athletes were assessed on technical, tactical, physical and mental skills both on and off the ice. Te 34 athletes who participated in the combine were considered alongside all 31 of the 2015-16 HPP athletes who indicated they wished to be considered for the 2016-17 program. Te combine was a part of the overall selection criteria for the HPP. Te


athletes invited into the program were selected by Derek Brown, Director of High Performance, and HPP national coaches, who currently include Scott Baird (Bemidji, Minn.), Phill Drobnick (Eveleth, Minn.), Ann Swisshelm (Chicago), Wally Henry (Beaver Dam, Wis.), and Dave Jensen (Bismarck, N.D.). Rick Patzke, USA Curling’s chief executive officer, also was involved in overseeing the process. “I am excited by the high caliber of applicants once again, and it is a


shame that we only have room for six adult teams as so many more athletes have the potential to be part of the program,” Brown said. In addition, Jensen has been appointed to direct the USA Curling Junior


Development Program, which now includes two junior women’s and two junior men’s teams. As national coach, Jensen will oversee and work with team coaches and athletes. “I am so excited about the direction USA Curling has taken with regard


to junior and youth curling,” Jensen said. “Te new U-18 National Champi- onship has already created quite a buzz, and the changes to our junior world team selection process promises to give us the best chance for sustained success at the world level, which is critical for our adult athlete pipeline. My goal is to be innovative in a way that results in long-term success for USA Curling’s junior program.” During the 2015-16 season, the HPP’s athletes and staff accomplished


seven of eight performance benchmarks set by the United States Olympic Committee, including five medals at international competitions (three sil- ver medals and two bronze medals). Tose who accepted invitations into the HPP will have a clear under-


standing of expectations, commitments, competition and training sched- ules, and funding. Performance goals, targets and measurements will be set and these will be reviewed throughout the year. Te six adult teams attended a training camp in June at the U.S. Olympic


Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and will have additional camps this summer in preparation for the season. Here is a look at the athletes who accepted invitations into the HPP for


18 usacurl.org ))


the 2016-17 season: Women’s teams: Team Red: Nina Roth (McFarland, Wis.)*, Tabitha Peterson (Eagan,


Minn.)*, Aileen Sormunen (Duluth, Minn.)*, Becca Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.)*, Coach Ann Swisshelm (Chicago) Team White: Cory Christensen (Duluth, Minn.)*, Sarah Anderson


(Broomall, Pa.)*, Taylor Anderson (Broomall, Pa.)*, Jenna Haag (Milwau- kee, Wis.)*, Coach Ann Swisshelm (Chicago)


Continued on P20


In addition to on-ice technical skills (below), participants in the Athlete Com- bine had to test in physical skills (above) as well as being assessed in mental and tactical skills.


Photos by Rich Harmer for USA Curling


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