DAY TWO OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S NATIONALS COMES TO A CLOSE
Photo by Bob Weder
Dunnam and Smith on top of the Men’s field; Anderson, Peterson, and Strouse tied for first in the Women’s championship
After the completion of four draws at the 2023 USA Curling National Championships, only three Women’s teams and two Men’s teams enter Tuesday undefeated.
In the Women’s championship, Team Anderson, Team Peterson, and Team Strouse all boast 2-0 records. On the Men’s side, Team Smith and Team Dunnam sit at the top of the standings at 2-0.
Team Smith (Jason Smith, Domenik Maerki, Hunter Clawson, Jared Allen, Eli Clawson) started the event with an upset 10-6 win over the team led by 2018 Olympic Gold Medalist and five-time National Champion John Shuster (John Shuster, Chris Plys, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, Colin Hufman). Ahead by one playing the tenth end, without last rock, Smith and his teammates stole three to seal the victory. They followed the win over Shuster with an 8-6 victory over Team Ruohnen in the afternoon game at the Denver Coliseum.
Smith remarked, “We made it a goal at the start of the week to communicate well. That has been the key to our start this week, along with making shots at important times in each end.”
Team Dunnam (Scott Dunnam, Cody Clouser, Lance Wheeler, Andy Dunnam) started the tournament by cruising past Colorado’s Darryl Sobering 8-4, and then followed up with a 9-5 win over World #9 Team Dropkin (Korey Dropkin, Andrew Stopera, Mark Fenner, Tom Howell).
“We feel like we have a really good grasp on the rocks and have some of the best sweepers out here, and the few times we’ve need a big shot, we’ve come through,” remarked Scott Dunnam, skip of the team.
Team Peterson (Tabitha Peterson, Cory Thiesse, Becca Hamilton, Tara Peterson), the 2022 Olympic representatives, opened the event by beating Team Bear (Madison Bear, Anne-Marie Dubberstein, Elizabeth Cousins, Alison Howell) 9-8 in an extra end, before handling Team Rhyme (Kim Rhyme, Libby Brundage, Cait Flannery, Katie Rhyme) 9-3 in eight ends.
Team Peterson Lead Tara Peterson, sister of Tabitha, talked about their play so far.
“We had a really tough game to get started, and were happy to come away with a win. In our second game, we had more understanding of the ice and managed to control play from start to finish.”
Team Anderson (Sarah Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Lexi Lanigan, Leah Yavarow) and Team Strouse (Delaney Strouse, Anne O’Hara, Sydney Mullaney, Rebecca Rodgers, Susan Dudt) join Peterson at the top of the standings with 2-0.
To get more updates from the 2023 USA Curling Men’s and Women’s Nationals—team rosters, schedules, line scores, standings, ticket information—visit the Championships section.
WOMEN’S STANDINGS
Team Anderson 2-0
Team Peterson 2-0
Team Strouse 2-0
Team Bear 1-1
Team Rhyme 1-1
Team McMakin 0-2
Team Scheel 0-2
Team Workin 0-2
MEN’S STANDINGS
Team Dunnam 2-0
Team Smith 2-0
Team Casper 1-1
Team Dropkin 1-1
Team Ruohonen 1-1
Team Shuster 1-1
Team Sampson 0-2
Team Sobering 0-2
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, IHG, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling, as the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States, is also supported by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
