[EAGAN, MN, January 8, 2024] — There was no margin for error for the team of Oyuna Uranchimeg and Matt Thums, as they faced a must-win situation in the final game of the round-robin portion of the 2024 USA Curling Wheelchair Mixed Doubles National Championship. What’s more, they knew they would have to string together three straight victories to earn the title.

With Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer through to the championship game with a 4-0 record, Uranchimeg/Thums needed to defeat the team of Penny Ricker and Shawn Sadowski to advance—a loss would eliminate them from the competition. In a back-and-forth contest, Uranchimeg/Thums stole three in the final end for a 9-6 win.

That win advanced them to the semi-finals, where they faced the team of Ricker/Sadowski again. Falling behind 5-0 early in the game, Uranchimeg/Thums rallied in the latter half to score six unanswered points, including a steal in the extra end, to win 6-5 and advance to the final.

In the championship game against Dwyer/Emt, Uranchimeg/Thums took control of the game when they scored three with last rock in the fourth end. They carried that momentum into the latter half of the game, stealing one in the fifth end and forcing Dwyer/Emt to a single in the sixth. Nonetheless, the game remained in the balance until the final shot, when Emt just barely missed a difficult draw for three that would have tied the game.

“We never gave up on ourselves,” Thums said.  “Our backs were up against the wall but we trusted each other and were able to make key shots at important moments.”

It was a disappointing finish for Dwyer/Emt, but their consistent play throughout the event bodes well for this new combination.

Uranchimeg and Thums will now represent the United States at the 2024 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Gangwon, Korea, from March 10-16. Dwyer, Emt, and Sadowski will join them as teammates in four-person play.

More information about the 2024 World Wheelchair Championships can be found on the World Curling website.

2024 USA Curling Mixed Doubles Nationals—Medalists

Gold: Oyuna Uranchimeg, Matt Thums

Silver: Laura Dwyer, Steve Emt

Bronze: Penny Ricker, Shawn Sadowski

About USA Curling

Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.