Athletes, teams & Coaches

 Home  /  About Us  /  Awards  /  Excellence

On an annual basis, the USA Curling Excellence Awards celebrate the accomplishments, contributions, and commitment of athletes and coaches.

Designed to reflect the sentiment of the entire curling community, voting is open to the following stakeholder groups: 

  • Fans

  • Peers (all competitors at the previous year's Men's and Women's National Championships and members of the Wheelchair National Team)

  • Hall of Fame Committee

  • Coaches

  • Board of Directors

  • Athletes of the Year: Awarded to one male athlete, one female athlete, and one wheelchair athlete. Winners of these awards define excellence both on and off the ice, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to competitive achievement.

  • Team of the Year: Awarded to the team that best exhibits sportsmanship, integrity, and elite performance.

  • Coach of the Year: Recognizes a Coach who has been a major contributor to the success of an established American team or teams.

  • Breakout Coach of the Year: Recognizes a Coach who has been a major contributor to the success of an emerging American team or teams.

 

2023 winners

TARA PETERSON: FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

FEMALE ATHLETE

Tara Peterson, second for Team Peterson, won the 2024 Women’s National Championship and was the fourth-highest shooter of her position at the World Women’s Championship. Tara’s team brought home a bronze medal for the USA at the Pan Continental Championships, and made the all-star team as the highest-shooting second at the Pan Continental Championships.

Past Winners

CHRIS PLYS: MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MALE ATHLETE

Chris Plys, the third for Team Shuster, took home his third consecutive Men's National Championship title. The team went on to earn a playoff berth at the World Men's Championship. Chris was also the 2024 recipient of the Collie Campbell Sportsmanship Award at the World Men's Championship.

Past Winners

MATT THUMS: WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE

Matt Thums and his mixed doubles partner, Oyuna Uranchimeg, won the title of Wheelchair Mixed Doubles National Champions and placed fifth at the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Championship. Matt was also the skip of the U.S. National Wheelchair Team that competed at the World Wheelchair Championship.

Past Winners

TEAM WENDLING: TEAM OF THE YEAR

TEAM

Team Wendling, consisting of Wes Wendling, Jackson Bestland, Kevin Tuma, Jackson Armstrong, and Caden Hebert, took home the silver medal from the 2024 World Junior-B Championships. They went on to place fourth at the World Junior Championships, landing just outside the medals. They concluded their season by qualifying for the playoffs at the Men's National Championship.

ANN SWISSHELM: COACH OF THE YEAR

COACH

Ann Swisshelm coached Team Wendling to a silver medal at the World Junior-B Championships and a fourth-place finish at the World Junior Championships. The season concluded with Team Wendling qualifying for the playoffs at the Men's National Championships.

Ann also coached the mixed doubles team of Becca and Matt Hamilton to a national championship title this season.

Past Winners

JIM WENDLING: BREAKOUT COACH OF THE YEAR

Breakout COACH

Jim Wendling coached the mixed doubles team of Ella Wendling and Benji Paral to victory at the Mixed Doubles Youth Olympic Games Trials. The team went on to bring home a bronze medal for the USA at the Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.

Jim concluded his season by leading his son’s junior men's team to a Junior National Championship title.

Past Winners