Teammates Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin stood atop the podium and watched the American flag rise towards the rafters, tears welling in their eyes. It had been a long journey for the pair, starting humbly on practice ice at the Duluth Curling Club before moving to national and international competition. After a flawless week at the Mixed Doubles Nationals in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a grueling twelve-game schedule at the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Gangneung, South Korea, Team Thiesse/Dropkin season culminated in this: 

Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, World Champions.

The journey to a world championship, while neither quick nor easy, began in the Spring of 2022. After missing out on the chance to represent the US in Mixed Doubles at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Thiesse and Dropkin decided to move on from their previous teammates. After a few quick conversations, a new partnership was formed.

“We’ve been good friends for a while, so playing together came naturally. Being able to practice together in Duluth was a big help, and getting good reps at the tournaments we played made a difference,” remarked Dropkin. “The Nationals was also a huge help—we got a ton of games in on good ice so it was a great prep for Worlds.”

The pair played a handful of Tour events throughout the season, and entered the Mixed Doubles Nationals as one of the top ranked teams. Thiesse and Dropkin moved through that competition without a blemish, going 7-0 in pool play before winning the semifinal and final to earn the national title. With that victory, the first-year duo now had the opportunity to represent the United States at the World Mixed Doubles Championship in South Korea, at the site where Team Shuster won Olympic Gold five years ago.

At the World Championship, Team USA faced stiff competition. In its first three games, the pair faced a trio of top contenders—Sweden, Japan, and Switzerland. After an opening match win, Thiesse and Dropkin dropped a close game to Japan when Chiaki Matsumura made an angle runback to score a single point in the extra end. Despite that early hiccup, the American pair learned from a game that would wind up being a preview of the final.

Thiesse and Dropkin refocused, and rattled off six straight wins to qualify for the quarterfinals. Entering the playoffs, both curlers were rounding into top form. Dropkin was named an All-Star for having the top shooting percentage among male curlers, and Thiesse was not far behind, finishing with the third best shooting percentage among women. 

In the quarterfinals, Thiesse and Dropkin would face Scotland, a formidable opponent and the winner of the past two Mixed Doubles World Championships. Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, who won this event in 2021, were playing well. But the Americans never blinked—Thiesse and Dropkin won the game in dominant fashion, with Dropkin shooting a remarkable 94%, and walked off the ice with an 8-6 win.

With that victory, Thiesse and Dropkin advanced to the semifinals against Canada. The result was the same—another win. While close early, steals of one and two points in the sixth and seventh ends resulted in a convincing win, and Team USA dispatched two of the most decorated curlers of all time in Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing. Thiesse and Dropkin were spectacular again, both finishing with shooting percentages over 90%. Thiesse recorded a game-high of 93%. 

The Americans were clearly rolling, but their toughest test was still ahead: a World Final against Japan the team that had defeated them early in the competition.

In the first end, a precise takeout by Thiesse led to a steal of a single point. In the second end, Team USA did not miss, resulting in a crucial steal of two. And in the fourth end, Thiesse made what would be a game-clincher: a difficult hack-weight tap-back between two stones to score two points with the hammer. 

For Thiesse, the win was redemption on the international stage. Like Dropkin, she lost a World Junior Curling Championship Final in 2016. Seven years later, she stood on the top step of the podium, a world championship secured.

“It was very overwhelming, and the first moment when it kind of hit me. It was very emotional, and I definitely teared up a bit,” Thiesse recounted. “But it’s something we dream about—to stand on top of the podium and watch your flag rise up.”

For Dropkin, the championship was also special because his mother, Shelley, was in Gangneung to compete in the World Women’s Senior Curling Championship and was able to watch in person. The broadcast cut to her often after the final rock was thrown, capturing her emotions and enthusiasm.

Of course, curling fans remember the amazing Team Shuster run to Olympic Gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea, but this victory is also historic—it is the first world crown in curling for the United States since Debbie McCormick led her women’s rink to the title at the 2003 World Women’s Championship in Winnipeg.

It’s been a whirlwind since the team returned home, with interviews and a celebration at the Duluth Curling Club. Thiesse called it a “surreal moment” when she stood on the podium and realized what they had accomplished. But for anyone who has followed the progress of these young players, it certainly wasn’t unexpected. We can expect to see more podium finishes for both of them in the future.