U-25 NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
(Stevens Point, Wis.) --- USA Curling is excited to announce the addition of the U-25 National Team Program. The program has been created as an opportunity for the USOPC and USA Curling to continue developing young competitive athletes as they age out of the junior ranks.
Recognizing that this transition is a critical time in an athlete's development, the USOPC has dedicated resources to ensure that young athletes have the tools necessary to continue to develop into world class players while USA Curling remains competitive on the world stage.
The U-25 National Team Program will consist of three teams (men's, women's, and mixed doubles). The following teams have been named to the U-25 National Team Program:
Women: Madison Bear, Annmarie Dubberstein, Taylor Drees and Allison Howell
Men: Luc Violette, Chase Sinnett, Ben Richardson and Jon Harstad
Mixed Doubles: Madison Bear and Andrew Stopera
The teams will be led by Tyler George and Jordan Moulton. Moulton has extensive experience competing at the highest levels within the United States and George recently retired from his competitive curling career after capturing the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. "We are proud to be at the forefront of what we expect to be a bedrock of developing USA Curling's young talent into Olympic hopefuls," George said.
Coaching staff welcomes Taylor Drees to the program and also looks forward to working again with the former junior program athletes of Bear, Dubberstein and Howell.
On the men's side, the 2020 Junior National Champions of Harstad, Richardson and Violette join forces with Sinnett. Chase Sinnett also found success last season after skipping his team to bronze medals at the 2020 Junior National Championships and the 2020 Men's National Championships.
In mixed doubles, Stopera and Bear enter their second season of competing together as a duo after qualifying at three World Curling Tour events in the 2019-20 season.
"We are excited to utilize the U-25 National Program as a bridge between the National Junior Team and National Men's and Women's Teams to continue toward our goal of sustained competitive excellence,” said Jessica Schultz, Women’s and Junior Program, Director. "We really feel Team Violette, Team Bear, and the Mixed Doubles team of Andrew Stopera and Madison Bear are strong starting points for the program. We look forward to continuing to develop the program with Tyler and Jordan to eventually encompass all athletes aging out of juniors who are working toward their Olympic dreams. We appreciate the USOPC's support in helping to make this program happen."
