TEAM USA IN PLAYOFF HUNT AT 2021 WORLD MIXED DOUBLES CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
© WCF / Celine Stucki
Seven games into the round robin of the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, Team USA has achieved a 4-3 record.
The Team of Tabitha Peterson (St. Paul, Minn.) and Joe Polo (Duluth, Minn.) opened the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record after defeating China, Japan, and Estonia.
On Wednesday, the duo fell short to the undefeated Swedish team and suffered another loss in their second game of the day against Switzerland.
Regaining confidence on Thursday morning, the United States defeated New Zealand, but then lost a close game in an extra end against England, giving the English their second win of the tournament.
With two games remaining in round robin play and only the top three teams of the pool advancing to playoffs, Peterson and Polo look to reset before taking the ice tomorrow against Norway and then Finland.
“We need to take advantage of our opportunities and come out tomorrow with some intensity,” said Phill Drobnick, National Team Director. “If we can do that, the wins will take care of themselves.”
The wins of the final two round robin games proving to be vital in determining whether the United States will remain in playoff contention as Peterson and Polo are currently in a three-way tie for third place with Switzerland and New Zealand.
Advancing to the playoffs of this year’s Championship not only gets teams one step closer to a gold medal, but also guarantees a spot for those countries in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
With the top seven teams earning berths to Beijing 2022, the fourth-place teams in each pool will compete in an Olympic Qualification game, where the winner will secure the seventh-place spot and qualify their country for the upcoming Olympics.
Winning the world bronze medal in 2016 and the 2020 U.S. Mixed Doubles National Championship, Tabitha Peterson and Joe Polo are familiar with performing in high-pressure situations.
“Tab and Joe have proven in the past that they are resilient,” said Drobnick. “We are going to lean on that experience to finish the round robin and get ourselves a spot in the playoffs.”
Click here to view more information on the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship 2021.
USA Curling is sponsored by Toyota, Goldline, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., 12th End Sports Network, Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People, and United Airlines.
