Monica Walker

Monica Walker (born February 20, 1987)[1][2] is an American curler originally from Brighton, Massachusetts.[3] She is a three-time national champion and currently plays third on Jamie Sinclair's team.

For the 20th century illustrator, see Monica Walker (illustrator).
Monica Walker
Curler
Born (1987-02-20) February 20, 1987
Concord, Massachusetts
Team
Curling clubSt. Paul & Four Seasons
SkipJamie Sinclair
ThirdMonica Walker
SecondCora Farrell
LeadElizabeth Cousins
Mixed doubles
partner		Alex Leichter
Career
World Championship
appearances		3 (2015, 2018, 2019)
Grand Slam victories1 (2018 Players' Championship)
Medal record
Curling
Representing Minnesota
United States Women's Curling Championship
2017 Everett
2018 Fargo
2019 Kalamazoo
2016 Jacksonville
2015 Kalamazoo
United States Olympic Curling Trials
2017 Omaha

Curling career

Walker began curling in 1997. In adult competitions, she placed 4th at the U.S. National Championships in 2012 and again in 2013.[3]

In 2016 Walker and Persinger left Roth's team to join Jamie Sinclair as the front end of a new team, with Alex Carlson as third. This new team found success, winning the 2017 U.S. Championships, but missed out on going to the World Championship due to not having enough points on the World Curling Tour. Walker and Team Sinclair competed for the winning Team North America at the 2017 Continental Cup of Curling. The team played in one Grand Slam, the 2017 Humpty's Champions Cup (qualifying as US champions), where they made it all the way to the quarterfinals.

The team started the 2017–18 season by winning the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic. They lost in the finals of the 2017 United States Olympic Curling Trials, missing out on the chance to play in the Olympics. Later that season they would win the 2018 United States Women's Curling Championship and would represent the United States at the 2018 Ford World Women's Curling Championship, where they finished fourth. Team Sinclair made history at the 2018 Players' Championship when they became the first American team to win a Grand Slam event. To finish the season they had a quarterfinal finish at the 2018 Humpty's Champions Cup.

The United States Curling Association would change the high performance teams the following season, for the next Olympic quadrennial. Walker remained at lead for skip Sinclair, with twin sisters Sarah and Taylor Anderson playing third and second respectively. The team did not have a very successful season, up until the 2019 United States Women's Curling Championship where they earned a third national title in a row, defeating Team Roth in the final. At the 2019 World Women's Curling Championship the team went 6–6 finishing in seventh place, just missing the playoffs. At the end of the season Walker announced she would be retiring from competitive curling.

Walker's retirement from competitive women's curling only lasted one season, as during the 2020 off-season Sinclair formed a new team, bringing Walker out of her short retirement to play at third, and adding two younger curlers for the front end, Cora Farrell and Elizabeth Cousins.[4][5]

Personal life

Walker attends the Simmons School of Management and lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[2]

Teams

Women's
Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Coach Events
2003–04[6] Monica WalkerLaura HalliseyJillian WalkerJuliana SheldonNikki RossettiRussell Hallisey
2004–05 Monica WalkerLaura HalliseyJillian WalkerJuliana SheldonNikki RossettiKaryn Cousins2005 USJCC (5th)
2005–06 Monica WalkerLaura HalliseyJillian WalkerNikki Rossetti2006 USJCC
2006–07 Monica WalkerLaura HalliseyJillian WalkerNikki Rossetti2007 USJCC [7]
Aileen SormunenCourtney GeorgeMolly BonnerJordan MoultonMonica WalkerRobert Fenson2007 WJCC (4th)
2009–10 Monica WalkerElizabeth WilliamsAshley LawreckRachel Ryan2010 USWCC (5th)
2010–11 Chrissy HaaseMonica WalkerKaren WalkerNicole Vassar2011 USWCC (9th)
2011–12 Alex CarlsonMonica WalkerKendall Moulton-BehmJordan Moulton2012 USWCC (4th)
2012–13 Alex CarlsonMonica WalkerKendall Moulton-BehmJordan Moulton2013 USWCC (4th)
2013–14 Courtney GeorgeAileen SormunenAmanda McLeanMonica WalkerJordan Moulton2013 USOCT (4th)
2014 USWCC (4th)
2014–15 Aileen SormunenTara PetersonVicky PersingerMonica Walker2015 USWCC
Aileen SormunenMonica WalkerTara PetersonVicky PersingerBecca HamiltonScott Baird2015 WWCC (10th)
2015–16 Nina RothMonica WalkerAileen SormunenVicky Persinger2016 USWCC
2016–17 Jamie SinclairAlex CarlsonVicky PersingerMonica Walker2017 USOCT
2017 USWCC
2017–18 Jamie SinclairAlex CarlsonVicky PersingerMonica WalkerJenna Martin (WWCC)Scott Baird2018 USWCC
2018 WWCC (4th)
2018–19 Jamie SinclairSarah AndersonTaylor AndersonMonica WalkerVicky Persinger (WWCC)Bryan Cochrane2019 USWCC
2019 WWCC (7th)
2020–21 Jamie SinclairMonica WalkerCora FarrellElizabeth Cousins

Mixed doubles
Season Female Male Events
2015–16 Monica WalkerSean Beighton2016 USMDCC (DNQ)
2016–17 Monica WalkerJason Smith2017 USMDCC (DNQ)
2017–18 Monica WalkerJason Smith2017 USMDCOT (5th)
2018–19 Monica WalkerAlex Leichter2019 USMDCC (DNQ)
2019–20 Monica WalkerAlex Leichter2020 USMDCC (4th)
2020–21[8] Monica WalkerAlex Leichter

References
  1. 2018 Ford World Women's Curling Championship Media Guide
  2. "Monica Walker". ASHAM CurlingZone. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  3. "Monica Walker". USA Curling. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  4. "Team Sinclair Announced". USA Curling. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  5. "Jamie Sinclair, Monica Walker reunite for 2020–21 season". TSN. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  6. "Bonspiel results – 2003 GNCC Junior Women's Championship". Grand National Curling Club. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  7. Larson, Craig (January 28, 2007). "Junior curlers earn return trip to nationals". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. "Mixed Doubles Teams Announced". USA Curling. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
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