5 teams from across the GLCA participated in the inaugural Under-18 US Curling Championship March 8-12 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Maya Willertz (Midland Curling Club) team finished round-robin play with a 3-2 record, forcing a Sunday morning tiebreaker with the Andrea McDonald rink from Madison, Wisconsin. Willertz and her teammates Delaney Strouse, Madelyn Graves and Rachel Weldy defeated Wisconsin 11-0 in 6 ends to advance to the playoffs.
In the semi-finals, Team Willertz drew Cait Flannery’s undefeated Minnesota rink and lost 9-0. Flannery’s team went on to defeat the Elizabeth Cousins rink from Massachusetts for the Gold Medal.
In the Bronze Medal game, Team Willertz fell behind Washington’s Nikole Lorvick rink 4-1 after 3 ends. The teams traded single points in the fourth and fifth ends. Willertz scored two points in the sixth end to cut into the lead and stole the remaining two ends for a 7-5 win and the Bronze Medals. The second Junior Women’s GLCA team, the Claire Blaske rink (Lansing/Mayfield/Fort Wayne Curling Clubs), finished 1-4 in round robin play.
In the Junior Men’s U-18 Championship, Andrew McDonald’s (Midland Curling Club) rink and Austin Carlson’s (Midland Curling Club) team both finished 2-3 in round-robin play. The Cameron Roehl rink (Bowling Green/Fort Wayne Curling Clubs) finished 1-4 in round robin play.
Complete List of Athletes:
Team Willertz (Bronze Medalists, 3-2 round robin): Skip: Maya Willertz, Vice: Delaney Strouse, Second: Madelyn Graves, Lead: Rachel Weldy, Coach: Mike Graves
Team Blaske (1-4 round robin): Skip: Claire Blaske, Vice: Kaitlin Murphy, Second: Emma Rau, Lead: Kaya Ray, Alternate: Amy Verway-Cohen, Coach: Dave O’Neil
Team McDonald (2-3 round robin): Skip: Andrew McDonald, Vice: Sam Strouse, Second: JT Burnett, Lead: Ian Strong, Coach: Scott Strouse
Team Carlson (2-3 round robin): Skip: Austin Carlson, Vice: Nick Soto, Second: Anderson Parets, Lead: Sam Willertz, Coach: Peter Carlson
Team Roehl (1-4): Skip: Cameron Roehl, Vice: Calvin Chandler, Second: John Jelinek, Lead: Adam Utnage, Coach: Jonathan Penney
