U.S. WOMEN WIN BRONZE AT WORLD JUNIOR CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022
Photo by WCF / Cheyenne Boone
On March 15-22, 2022, the top junior curling nations from around the world competed in Jönköping, Sweden, for the World Junior Curling Championships 2022.
The U.S. women, Delaney Strouse, Anne O’Hara, Sydney Mullaney, Susan Dudt, and Kaitlin Murphy qualified for the playoff portion of the Championships by earning a 7-2 record through the round robin, clinching the second of four playoff seeds.
After losing to Japan, who went on to win the gold medal, in the semi-final matchup, the U.S. bounced back strong the following day against Norway.
In the bronze medal game, the U.S. faced Norway, the top-ranked team at the conclusion of the round robin.
Due to Norway’s higher ranking, it was the Norwegians who started the bronze medal contest with hammer.
The Strouse-skipped rink forced Norway to a single point before drawing for a deuce in the second end to take a one-point lead.
In the third end, the U.S. stole a single point to extend their lead to two-points.
Both teams exchanged singles in the fourth and fifth ends, making the score 4-2 in the United States’ favor at the close of the first half.
In the second half, Norway was first on the board, putting up the only odd number of the game and scoring a three-point end to regain the lead.
Norway scored again in the seventh end with a steal of one, moving ahead by two points, however, the seventh end would mark the last time the Norwegians found their way onto the scoreboard in the bronze medal matchup.
In the eighth end, the U.S. evened the score by dragging Delaney Strouse’s final stone into the four-foot for a second counter.
The U.S. stole two more points in the ninth end to carry a two-point advantage into the final end of play.
In the tenth end, the U.S. sat counting two, buried under a Norwegian guard.
Norway’s attempt to tie the game with a runback double takeout over curled, securing another two points for the U.S.
A final 10-6 score captured the bronze medal for the U,S. team of Delaney Strouse, Anne O’Hara, Sydney Mullaney, Susan Dudt, Kaitlin Murphy, and coach Amy Harnden.
“It feels really amazing after a tough game last night to just really pull through today with the girls,” said Delaney Strouse. “We had a very strong week; it was definitely exciting to see our hard work finally pay off.”
Congratulations to Delaney, Anne, Sydney, Susan, and Kaitlin on capturing bronze!
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
