TEAM PONZIO TOPS YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES TRIALS, WILL REPRESENT UNITED STATES IN KOREA
Photo by: Becky Duffy
[EAGAN, MN, September 11, 2023] — Top junior teams traveled to the Denver Curling Club this past week to compete for the right to be Team USA in January at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province, Korea. When the championship game ended on Sunday evening, it was Team Ponzio earning the title with a 5-4 victory over Team Podhradsky in a well-played final.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth end, Ponzio scored three in the fifth end and stole another point in the sixth end to take control of the game. After giving up one in the seventh, the team had an open takeout in the final end to secure the victory.
Team Ponzio, skipped by Kenna Ponzio with Zachary Brenden handling last-rock duties, Teegan Thurston at second, and Owen Nelson at lead, was 4-1 in pool play. On their way to the championship game, they defeated Team McMullin in the quarter-finals and Team Guentzel in the semi-finals. Team Podhradsky (Will Podhradsky, Allie Giroux, Leighton Hines, Brooke Giroux) also finished 4-1 in pool play, before beating Team Rose and Team Hagenbuch in the playoff round.
Following the championship game, skip Kenna Ponzio said, “It feels insane to win, and I’m so proud of this team. It’s so exciting to go to the Youth Olympic Games.”
Brenden added, “Winning the Youth Olympic Games Trials is surreal, and really hasn’t sunk in yet.”
In 2019, eleven teams competed in the Youth Olympic Games playdown, with Team Hebert capturing the crown and going on to represent the United States in Switzerland. In Denver, 23 teams vied for the title.
“It was terrific to see so many great young teams competing for the right to be Team USA,” remarked USA Curling Sporting Director Katie Baker. “The commitment level among all of these athletes is high, and I’m looking forward to seeing this group develop further as they continue their curling careers.”
Team Ponzio will represent the United States in four-person Mixed Curling at the Youth Olympic Games. Two more curlers will earn the right to compete as Team USA at the Games in Mixed Doubles—the playdown to determine those representatives will be held at the Bemidji Curling Club in Bemidji, MN from November 2-5, 2023.
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, IHG, 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.
