United States Women's Curling Championship
The United States Women's Curling Championship is the annual women's national curling championship for the United States. It is run by the United States Curling Association (USCA) and typically held in conjunction with the Men's Curling Championship. The champions are eligible to represent the United States at the World Women's Curling Championships if they also rank in the top 75 teams over the last two seasons in the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or have earned 40 points in the Order of Merit year-to-date rankings.[1]
| United States Women's Curling Championship | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1977 |
| 2021 host city | Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
| 2021 arena | ImOn Ice Arena |
| 2020 champion |  Tabitha Peterson |
| Current edition | |
Qualification
The qualification methods and format of the championship has changed over time, but currently eight teams play in each championship. Four spots are awarded to the top American teams in the World Curling Federation (WCF) World Team Ranking System at a particular date roughly two months out from the championship.[2] Three spots are awarded to the top teams from a Challenge Round, open to all United States curlers.[3] The final spot is awarded to a team from that year's Junior Championships, selected by the USCA.
For the 2021 Championship the qualification methods were modified slightly due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The field of eight teams included the 2020 champion and runner-up, the top three teams in the WCF World Team Ranking System on September 1, 2020, and the top three teams from the Challenge Round.[4]
Format
The current format begins with a complete round robin where each team plays every other team. The playoff format depends on the rankings at the end of the round robin. If one team finishes the round robin at least one win ahead of the other teams then that team advances directly to the final and faces the winner of a game between the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams. If two or three teams are tied for first place after the round robin then the top three teams play a version of a page playoff. The 1st and 2nd ranked teams play each other with the winner advancing to the championship game. The loser of the 1st vs 2nd game plays the 3rd place team with the winner of this game advancing to the championship game. If four teams are tied for first place after the round robin then all four advance to a single elimination style playoff. The 1st ranked team plays the 4th while the 2nd ranked team plays the 3rd. The winners of these two games play in the championship.[5]
Past champions
The site and winner of every women's national championship since it began in 1977:[6]
| Year | Site | Winning Club | Skip | Third | Second | Lead | Finish at Worlds1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Wilmette, IL |  Hastings, NY | Margaret Smith | Cynthia Smith | Jackie Grant | Eve Switzer | |
| 1978 | Duluth, MN |  Wausau, WI | Sandy Robarge | Elaine Collins | Jo Shannon | Virginia Morrison | |
| 1979 | Winchester, MA |  Seattle, WA | Nancy Langley | Dolores Wallace | Leslie Frosch | Nancy Wallace | 5th |
| 1980 | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA | Sharon Kozai | Joan Fish | Betty Kozai | Aija Edwards | 5th |
| 1981 | Kettle Moraine, WI | Seattle, WA | Nancy Langley | Carol Dahl | Leslie Frosch | Nancy Wallace | 8th |
| 1982 | Bowling Green, OH |  Oak Park, IL | Ruth Schwenker | Stephanie Flynn | Donna Purkey | Kathleen Wilson | 8th |
| 1983 | Grafton, ND | Seattle, WA | Nancy Langley | Dolores Campbell | Nancy Wallace | Leslie Frosch | 6th |
| 1984 | Wauwatosa, WI | Duluth, MN | Amy Hatten | Terry Leksell | Karen Leksell | Kelly Sieger | 9th |
| 1985 | Hershey, PA |  Fairbanks, AK | Bev Birklid | Peggy Martin | Jerry Evans | Katrina Sharp | 9th |
| 1986 | Chicago, IL | St. Paul, MN | Gerri Tilden | Linda Barneson | Barb Polski | Barb Gutzmer | 7th |
| 1987 | St. Paul, MN | Seattle, WA | Sharon Good | Joan Fish | Beth Bronger-Jones | Aija Edwards | 5th |
| 1988 | Darien, CT | Seattle, WA | Nancy Langley | Nancy Pearson | Leslie Frosch | Mary Hobson | 7th |
| 1989 | Detroit, MI |  Rolla, ND | Jan Lagasse | Janie Kakela | Cooky Bertsch | Eileen Mickelson | 9th |
| 1990 | Superior, WI |  Denver, CO | Bev Behnke | Dawna Bennett | Susan Anscheutz | Pam Finch | 8th |
| 1991 | Utica, NY |  Houston, TX | Maymar Gemmell | Judy Johnston | Janet Hunter | Brenda Jancic | 9th |
| 1992 | Grafton, ND | Madison, WI | Lisa Schoeneberg | Amy Wright | Lori Mountford | Jill Jones | Silver |
| 1993 | St. Paul, MN | Denver, CO | Bev Behnke | Dawna Bennett | Susan Anscheutz | Pam Finch | 8th |
| 1994 | Duluth, MN | Denver, CO | Bev Behnke | Dawna Bennett | Susan Anscheutz | Pam Finch | 6th |
| 1995 | Appleton, WI | Madison, WI | Lisa Schoeneberg | Erika Brown | Lori Mountford | Marcia Tillisch, Allison Darragh | 5th |
| 1996 | Bemidji, MN | Madison, WI | Lisa Schoeneberg | Erika Brown | Lori Mountford | Allison Darragh, Debbie McCormick | Silver |
| 1997 | Seattle, WA | Arlington, WI | Patti Lank | Analissa Johnson | Joni Cotten | Tracy Sachtjen | 6th |
| 1998 | Bismarck, ND | Wilmette, IL | Kari Erickson | Lori Kreklau | Stacey Liapis | Ann Swisshelm, Risa O’Connell | 8th |
| 1999 | Duluth, MN | Madison, WI | Patti Lank | Erika Brown | Allison Darragh | Tracy Sachtjen | Silver |
| 2000 | Ogden, UT |  Ak-sar-ben | Amy Wright | Amy Becher | Joni Cotten | Natalie Simenson, Corina Marquardt | 6th |
| 2001 | Madison, WI | Highland Park, IL | Kari Erickson | Debbie McCormick | Stacey Liapis | Ann Swisshelm | 5th |
| 2002 | Eveleth, MN | Madison, WI | Patti Lank | Erika Brown | Allison Pottinger | Natalie Nicholson, Nicole Joraanstad | 7th |
| 2003 | Utica, NY | Chicago, IL | Debbie McCormick | Allison Pottinger | Ann Swisshelm Silver | Tracy Sachtjen | Gold |
| 2004 | Grand Forks, ND | Madison, WI | Patti Lank | Erika Brown | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | 4th |
| 2005 | Madison, WI | Bemidji, MN | Cassie Johnson | Jamie Johnson | Jessica Schultz | Maureen Brunt | Silver |
| 2006 | Bemidji, MN | Madison, WI | Debbie McCormick | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | Silver |
| 2007 | Utica, NY | Madison, WI | Debbie McCormick | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | 4th |
| 2008 | Hibbing, MN | Madison, WI | Debbie McCormick | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | 7th |
| 2009 | Broomfield, CO | Madison, WI | Debbie McCormick | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | 9th |
| 2010 | Kalamazoo, MI | Madison, WI | Erika Brown | Nina Spatola | Ann Swisshelm | Laura Hallisey | 5th |
| 2011 | Fargo, ND | Lewiston, NY | Patti Lank | Caitlin Maroldo | Jessica Schultz | Mackenzie Lank | 7th |
| 2012 | Philadelphia, PA | St. Paul, MN | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | Tabitha Peterson | 5th |
| 2013 | Green Bay, WI | Madison, WI | Erika Brown | Debbie McCormick | Jessica Schultz | Ann Swisshelm | 4th |
| 2014 | Philadelphia, PA | Madison, WI | Nina Spatola | Becca Hamilton | Tara Peterson | Sophie Brorson | 6th (Allison Pottinger) |
| 2015 | Kalamazoo, MI | Madison, WI | Erika Brown | Alex Carlson | Becca Funk | Kendall Behm | 10th (Aileen Sormunen) |
| 2016 | Jacksonville, FL | Madison, WI | Erika Brown | Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | 6th |
| 2017 | Everett, WA | Blaine, MN | Jamie Sinclair | Alexandra Carlson | Vicky Persinger | Monica Walker | 5th (Nina Roth) |
| 2018 | Fargo, ND | Blaine, MN | Jamie Sinclair | Alexandra Carlson | Vicky Persinger | Monica Walker | 4th |
| 2019 | Kalamazoo, MI | Chaska, MN | Jamie Sinclair | Sarah Anderson | Taylor Anderson | Monica Walker | 7th |
| 2020 | Cheney, WA | St. Paul, MN | Tabitha Peterson | Becca Hamilton | Tara Peterson | Aileen Geving | N/A2 |
| 2021 | Cedar Rapids, IA[7] |
- Notes
- ^ This column shows the results of the team representing the United States at the World Curling Championships. Based on the rules implemented by the United States Curling Association for the 2013–14 season, the United States team at the World Curling Championships is not necessarily the team that won the national championship. Beginning in 2018, the winner will once again represent the US at the World Championships, provided they have a high enough ranking on the World Curling Tour.
- ^ 2020 World Women's Curling Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Champions by state
(As of 2020)
15, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1| Rank | State | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | 17 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 8 |
| 3 | Washington | 6 |
| 4 | Illinois | 4 |
| 5 | Colorado | 3 |
| 6 | New York | 2 |
| 7 | Alaska | 1 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 1 |
| 7 | Texas | 1 |
Sportsmanship award
The Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award has been presented annually since 2007 to one male and one female athlete at the National Championships who are judged to best embody the USCA Spirit of Curling as voted on by their peers. The award is given in memory of Ann Brown, who was the first female president of the United States Curling Association and was the second female inductee into the USCA Hall of Fame.[8]
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Caitlin Maroldo |
| 2008 | Ann Swisshelm |
| 2009 | Laura Roessler |
| 2010 | Gabrielle Coleman |
| 2011 | Chrissy Haase |
| 2012 | Tara Peterson |
| 2013 | Sarah Anderson |
| 2014 | Theresa Hoffoss |
| 2015 | Kate Bert |
| 2016 | Katie Sigurdson |
| 2017 | Donna Umali |
| 2018 | Rebecca Andrew |
| 2019 | Kim Rhyme |
| 2020 | Ariel Traxler |
See also
References
- "USA Curling relaxes the World Team Qualification Process for 2018". Team USA. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- "First nine teams qualify to 2020 Nationals". USA Curling. Dec 4, 2019. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
- "2020 Nationals field nearly complete". USA Curling. Jan 5, 2020. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
- "2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING PROCEDURES". Team USA. July 30, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- "2019 National Championship Media Guide" (PDF). www.teamusa.org. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- "Women's Champions". www.teamusa.org. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- Gewirtz, Jason (Aug 7, 2019). "2021 USA Curling Nationals Headed to Iowa". Sports Travel Magazine. Retrieved Apr 29, 2020.
- "Awards". Team USA. Retrieved 2019-04-07.