Maximizing Reach
How one club in the heart of Texas is reaching their local young adult population. Plus, all of the championship qualifiers from the New Year!
Every four years, clubs are looking for new ways to maximize their growth during the vital surge of the Olympics. Curling is a staple of the Olympics, whether people are making fun of it or enthralled by it. All of the attention on curling, which starts even before the Opening Ceremonies, brings a spotlight to our sport.
Lone Star Curling Club in Austin, Texas is a vibrant arena club entering its 20th Anniversary who looked at a unique way to market themselves to folks in central Texas: social media influencers.
A member of Lone Star’s events committee had the idea to see if locally based influencers would be interested in doing a Learn to Curl. Carrie Caroselli, a member of the committee, created a list and began doing outreach through the club’s Instagram account. Lone Star member Brian Barker, a content creator himself who posts curling content under the name curlhandluke, also reached out to creators on TikTok, where he has amassed nearly 50,000 followers.
Carrie shared with me that they waived the normal fee for a Learn to Curl and allowed the influencers to bring a friend as well. They did run into some creators who would only do this if they were paid but were still able to find a number of creators to sign up. The other big challenge? Timing.
The club wanted to host this event before the Olympics and give the creators sufficient time to create and post their content to social media. However, arena clubs have limited ice times available, and it just so happened their weekend with the most availability was the same weekend of Big Spiel. The club had approximately 20 curlers head from Texas up to the Twin Cities for the bonspiel, not just a significant chunk of the club membership, but a big piece of their volunteer core.
Even so, they had five volunteers step up to lead the Learn to Curl, with another 20+ curlers come to play pickup games in the background to make it look busier for any posted content.
“This was a bit of a shot in the dark for us, and I’m thrilled it all came together,” said Caroselli. She noted it was a definite success with the club already seeing increased followers on social media thanks to posts like this and a handful of people signed up for upcoming Learn to Curls who learned about the club through social media.
Austin, Texas has a large population of young adults looking for hobbies, and Lone Star Curling Club came up with a great way to get the word out that the Roaring Game exists right in the heart of Texas.
Onto the results from the start of the New Year in a supersized edition of the newsletter!
Club Playdowns Results
Grand National
Women’s Champion: Conrad (Charlotte Curling Association)
While the GNCC is predominantly made up of curling clubs in the eastern US, a number of clubs around the country are a part of GNCC to take advantage of some of their member benefits. As a result, this year’s club playdowns went to their dedicated ice member club in the West, CurlVegas!
Four women’s teams participated in the double round robin event, including 2023 national champion, Seré Politano. It was the team from Charlotte, North Carolina, led by skip Kristen Conrad, however, that took the event with a strong showing.
Team Conrad got a hot start, winning their first four games of the double round robin by a minimum of a four-point margin. While they dropped their fifth game to Team Strong of CurlVegas, Peachtree’s Thomson defeated Politano, eliminating any chance of a tie for the top spot. As far as I could tell, this will be the first time Charlotte is represented at the Women’s Club National Championship!
Men’s Champion: Guzman (Broomstones Curling Club)
Four teams also competed on the men’s side of the event at Charlotte, with representatives from Broomstones, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Las Vegas. As with the women’s event, it was a double round robin.
Benj Guzman and his rink from Broomstones got out to a quick start, posting 9-2 and 9-4 victories on day 1 of the event. Day two, however, was much more of a grind for the team from Massachusetts. Up two without hammer in the final end, Guzman had to wait and watch as Eric Kortebein lined up a double for the win. The shot was made perfectly, and Guzman was handed an early loss.
Team Guzman found themselves battling the rest of the day. They mustered an extra end victory against Pittsburgh’s Team Devine, and they decided to get their money’s worth on a 3-game day by playing yet another extra end game against Team Altman of CurlVegas. Throwing against two Altman counters, Guzman’s front end had to pound the rock to get them to sit shot, and they did just that.
With the win, Guzman secured their spot atop the GNCC standings and their first return trip to club nationals since 2022 where they won bronze.
Note: Both the men’s and women’s playdowns for the GNCC ended one draw early as a champion had emerged without needing the final draw of round robin play. Because not all games were played, no runner-up is listed as multiple teams could have achieved a second-place finish in the region.
Great Lakes
Men’s Champion: Gleaton (Fort Wayne Curling Club)
Men’s Runner-Up: Dolan (Columbus Curling Club)
After a year of battling an excellent problem of trying to fit two large playdowns at a 4-sheet club, the Great Lakes region split their men’s and women’s playdowns into separately run events. The women’s playdown will be held in a few weeks at Circle City Curling Club, but the men took the ice to kick off the new year in Traverse City Michigan.
The ten-team, two-pool event was filled with surprises, including the GLCA’s arena nationals representatives, Team Galsworthy of Grand Rapids Curling Club, putting on a show during the round robin, going undefeated and earning a bye to the semifinals. Their impressive run was put to an end by the eventual champions, Gleaton, in the semifinal, while their opponents, Team Dolan, overcame last year’s Great Lakes finalists, Levy and Strouse in the playoffs with some jean-ius play. (I am sorry, I couldn’t help it.)
Marcus Gleaton and company got off to a quick start with three in the first end of the final after Kevin Dolan’s freeze attempt missed the mark. They didn’t look back from there. Gleaton would go on to steal the next three ends, and the Columbus rink would concede the victory to the representatives who will represent Fort Wayne Curling Club at the club national championship.
Team Gleaton may take the crown for the most dedicated team of curlers headed to nationals this spring. Three of the curlers are from Kalamazoo, which does not have a home after being asked to leave their previous facility, and they teamed up with Stephen Imes of Columbus. With all four players dealing with delays or cancellations at their home clubs, they curl in a league together at Fort Wayne Curling Club, roughly halfway between the two cities who are 4.5 hours apart. Thank you to Matt Sussman for this incredible anecdote.
They’ll have a slightly longer drive to get to Chaska, Minnesota for nationals, but I think it’s safe to say they’ll view it as well worth the time.
Dakota Territory
Women’s Champion: Podoll (Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club)
Women’s Runner-Up: Wagner (Capital Curling Club)
Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club hosted their playdowns this year, and the Dakota Territory had double the number of teams on the women’s side this year, going from two to four team, but it is again going to be Team Podoll heading to nationals.
The back-to-back reigning national silver medalists earned their ticket again this year after a rigorous double round-robin event. At her home club, Ann Podoll dropped a game to Michelle Wagner in the first trip through the round robin, but she didn’t let it happen the second time around.
With Wagner sitting with a number of biters going into skip’s stones in the 2nd end, Podoll was able to sink two rocks under staggered corner guards to steal two and take a 3-0 lead. They would not trail for the entire final and secured their return to nationals once again in 2026.
Men’s Champion: Workin (Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club)
Men’s Runner-Up: Hodek (Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club)
In yet another excellent showing for the Dakota Territories, 15 teams from 6 clubs competed for the men’s berth to Chaska in March. While Dakota was just shy of getting a second berth at nationals, they continue to have huge turnouts.
Tim Hodek had played at the previous nationals with skip Ryan Berg but took his own team into club playdowns for 2026. He would go on to meet his Prairie Dawgs teammate, Evan Workin, in the final. Workin returns 3 of his 4 teammates from last season and has been at each of the last two national events, earning bronze in 2024.
After yielding a steal of 1 in the first, Workin converted with the hammer to make a draw for 2 in the second and stole another in the third. The key shot, though, came in the 5th end with a one-point lead when Workin made a double on his first shot to sit with four. Hodek was able to make a double back but the shooter rolled too far, giving Evan Workin a draw for three. Team Hodek conceded after a steal of one in the 6th, giving Team Workin the Dakota championship and a trip to Chaska, Minnesota.
Wisconsin
Women’s Champion: Roth (Madison Curling Club)
Women’s Runner-Up: Hampton (Madison Curling Club)
The Wisconsin women’s playdown had one of the more unique formats I’ve encountered in the two years of doing this newsletter. Wisconsin went from four teams last year to seven this year and utilized a modified triple knockout. After a team qualified for playoffs, they would drop down to a lower bracket and continue playing in the other qualifying brackets, potentially serving the knockout blow. There were opportunities for as many as four teams and as few as two teams to make the playoffs.
In the end, three teams moved on to playoffs with A-event qualifier Team Roth, skipped by two-time Olympian Nina Roth, leading the way. She would face off against fellow club members from Team Hampton in the final. Mandy Hampton was in good shape, leading 5-4 with the hammer advantage in the 8th end, but her draw for the win was just heavy to send the game to extras.
The key shot in the extra end came on Nina Roth’s first rock. With Hampton sitting on the back button, Roth played an excellent shot to not only sit frozen on the button, but leaving a staggered rock above it. Hampton had no good way to deal with it over her next two shots, and Roth stole the victory in extras. Madison Curling Club will once again have a medal contender at nationals.
Men’s Champion: Carlson (Kettle Moraine Curling Club/Wauwatosa Curling Club)
Men’s Runner-Up: Freund (Wauwatosa Curling Club)
In 2024, Neil Freund and Ryan Carlson met in the Wisconsin state championship. Carlson won that matchup to earn his spot at the club championships in Fargo. Once again, the teams found themselves facing off with the state championship on the line. The stakes were somewhat lower, as Wisconsin’s 16-team field ensured both teams a spot in the field at nationals.
Both teams hail from the recently flooded Wauwatosa Curling Club, though Team Carlson also plays out of Kettle Moraine Curling Club as well. There were a number of big shots in this game, but the biggest shot might have been an aggressive decision from Ryan Carlson. Looking at two open opponent scoring rocks in the back of the house without the hammer, Carlson decided to play hard for the force or steal and draw under guards. The draw was made to sit shot and a hit for Freund went wide to generate a steal.
Carlson used that momentum and generated a huge steal of three in the 6th end, utilizing center line guards and crowding the 4-foot-circle to make a difficult draw for Freund. The steal effectively sealed it for Carlson, securing their second state championship in three years. Both teams will be a tough challenge in Chaska.
5-and-Under Qualifier Results
Furthest North 5U (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Winner: Casey (Granite Curling Club of Seattle)
Runner-Up: Leone (Anchorage Curling Club)
I have a biased opinion, but the 5U bonspiel hosted by Fairbanks Curling Club has to be one of the best in the nation. The club generally rolls out the red carpet for the teams who make the trek up to Fairbanks. Games are timed and officiated as a competitive event, giving 5U curlers excellent prep for the future (and for nationals, if they make it). And you get your money’s worth (for curling games, food, and hopefully an aurora). This year was no different for the 18 teams competing in the Furthest North 5U.
Teams got a 5-game guarantee, and the two teams who eventually made the final put on an entertaining final for everyone in attendance. Team Casey went undefeated in pool play but had the worst DSC of undefeated teams, so they had to play a 3-game championship Sunday. Team Leone also had a 3-game Sunday but qualified for playoffs with a 3-2 record, making a Cinderella run to the playoffs.
It looked like John Casey was well set up, winning 6-2 after 6 ends but no lead is safe in Alaska! Leone came storming back, scoring three in the 7th and stealing another in the 8th to force an extra end when Casey’s draw went just deep. The clock struck midnight for the Anchorage team in the extra end, and Team Casey held on to earn a spot at the national championship being held at their home club! This guarantees the host club will have at least two teams on home ice!
Frigid 5U (Appleton, Wisconsin)
Winner: Mack (Kettle Moraine Curling Club)
Runner-Up: Horgan (Stevens Point Curling Club)
Kettle Moraine’s Team Mack has played in four qualifiers so far this season and has impressively found themselves in the final for the third time. As Bekka Mack took her place in the house for the 8th end of Sunday’s final in Appleton down by 2 points, it looked like the skip might be the bridesmaid yet again. But she did what she had to when it mattered to make sure that would not be the case.
Sitting shot rock going into skip stones, Mack made a nose tap to move a rock back on her first shot to sit two. David Horgan’s last rock crashed on Mack’s previous stone, leaving Mack already sitting with two counters for the tie and needing to hit the 4-foot-circle to win.
And hit the 4-foot she did. Mack’s win improved her team to an impressive 16-4 record across their four events this season, and now they get to book some flights to Seattle for nationals!
Lakeside Curling 5-and-Under Open (Duluth, MN)
Winner: Sather (Duluth Curling Club)
Runner-Up: Vig (Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club)
For the past few seasons, it has been the Team Mellin show at the Duluth 5U. Without the multi-time reigning champions in the field, it was time to crown a new victor among the field of 32.
Team Sather has been a regular participant in the Duluth 5U, including a semifinal loss to Mellin last year, and they found themselves in the finals for the very first time. They faced off against Zach Vig, a regular in the Upper Midwest 5U circuit, making his first 5U qualifier final.
A close game through five ends, Bryan Sather broke it open with a score of three in the 6th end to take a two-point lead before stealing in both the 7th and 8th ends to secure the victory. Their win continues the streak of a hometown team winning the Lakeside 5U for yet another year.
Regions Cupdate
With the completion of the U18 National Championship at Rock Creek Curling in Colorado, the second event of the Regions Cup was scored. Club nationals and mixed nationals are the final Regions Cup events which will determine the winner.
After scoring a gold and a silver at arena nationals, the Mid-America region continued their strong showing in the inaugural Cup race thanks to bronze medal finishes from Team Biesecker and Team Rose of Colorado. Team Berg (Minnesota) and Team Kadlec (Wisconsin) got their regions a big boost up the standings with their championship victories, while Dakota kept themselves in striking distance of MACA thanks 2nd (Grabow) and 5th place (Rokke) finishes from their respective teams.
Please remember, these numbers are my unofficial tabulation based on my understanding of USA Curling’s releases regarding points for the Regions Cup.
Up Next…
The Olympics are here!
But first, we’ve got a boatload of other qualifier events as we get into the busiest time of year for 5-and-Under qualifiers. I am aiming to get a one more newsletter of national qualifier updates from the upcoming playdowns and 5U sometime before Cory and Korey hit the ice against Norway on February 5th.
As a quick plug, you can catch all of my Olympics coverage for The Curling Group, like this Rich Ruohonen feature, on the Grand Slam of Curling website. You can keep up with all of my new work over there by either following me on social media (hoppecurls on Instagram, BlueSky, and Twitter) and by following the Rock Channel on all the social media platforms!
Good curling!