2023 US Junior Nationals Set to Begin in Familiar Place
Photo by Bob Weder.
[EAGAN, MN, March 31, 2023]—The 2023 US Junior Men's and Women's Curling Championships are set to begin on Monday as the nationals return to the Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, MA for the first time in a decade.
Ten years ago, the Broomstones Curling Club played host to the top junior teams in the country, welcoming the Nationals inside its doors for the third time in its history. That year’s championship saw prominent athletes such as Korey Dropkin and Vicky Persinger stand atop the podium. Top under-21 athletes from around the country once again will find themselves in the Boston-area, seeking to use this championship as a springboard for their burgeoning curling careers.
“It’s hard to believe that we competed in juniors at my home club ten years ago,” remarked Korey Dropkin, skip of the 2013 champion team. “That was an incredibly special week, competing in front of the community that I grew up with, and was so important for my curling development. This is such a great opportunity for these developing curlers to display their hard work and prove themselves against the best young athletes in the country.”
The 2023 edition of the junior nationals will feature a deep field of athletes that includes multiple reigning champions. On the women’s side, Team Scheel will seek to defend its title after hoisting the championship trophy last year in Stevens Point, WI. In the men’s field, Kevin Tuma will also attempt to repeat as champion but this time with a new squad, joining Team Wendling at third.
“We’re excited to see the junior nationals return to the Broomstones Curling Club for the fourth time,” commented USA Curling Interim CEO Dean Gemmell. “They’ve always put on fantastic events, and I expect this to be no different. I’m looking forward to seeing the future of USA Curling compete this upcoming week.”
Eight junior men's and women's teams will compete in respective round robins before the top four teams advance to the playoffs. The men's and women's teams that win gold will have the opportunity to represent the US at the World Junior-B Curling Championships and, per qualification, the World Junior Curling Championships, both in Lohja, Finland.
Each game of every draw throughout the entirety of the competition will be streamed on the USA Curling YouTube channel thanks to partnership with Curling Stadium. One feature game each draw will be provided with commentary.
Team Rosters:
Men’s
Team Brenden - Zachary Brenden, Owen Nelson, Kjell Olmanson, Kyan Ponzio
Team Carlson - Evan Carlson, Ben Peters, Evan Dauernheim, William Mountfield, Henrik Carlson
Team Cenzalli - Nicholas Cenzalli, Daniel Laufer, Shaheen Bassiri, Dylan Ciapka
Team Grabow - Connor Grabow, Miles Grabow, Jaime Christopher Vidaurrazaga, Elijah DeRomanis, Ethan Macomber
Team Guentzel - Mason Guentzel, Stuart Strack, Will Podhradsky, Leighton Hines
Team Hebert - Caden Hebert, Jackson Bestland, Benji Paral, Jack Wendtland
Team Rose - Caiden Rose, Avery Wilson, Brock Sando, Tate Reeder-Holman
Team Wendling - Wesley Wendling, Kevin Tuma, Chris Kirsch, Jackson Armstrong
Women’s
Team Berg - Gracia Berg, Damaris Olson, Brooklyn Saiger, Raelynn Trask
Team Hagenbuch - Bella Hagenbuch, Rilee Kraft, Mae Hagenbuch, Lauren Hein
Team Johnson - Allory Johnson, Gianna Johnson, Bailey Vaydich, Lily Olson
Team Pekowitz - Addison Neill, Julia Pekowitz, Kailey Price, Alexandra Pekowitz, Megan Stopera
Team Ponzio - Kenna Ponzio, Christine Whear, Teagan Thurston, Carly Setter
Team Ryhorchuk - Sophia Ryhorchuk, Morgan Zacher, Allie Giroux, Brooke Giroux
Team Thurlow - Miranda Scheel, Jordan Hein, Tessa Thurlow, Amelia Hintz
Team Viau - Claire Viau, Ella Wendling, Megan McPhee, Ellery Bazley, Ella Fleming
