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USA Curling  Update

Women

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for curling will be a double round robin event Dec. 11-16, 2001 at The Ice Sheet in Ogden, Utah. This is the same venue where the 2002 Olympics curling competition will be held.

The final pieces of the women's U.S. Olympic Curling Trials fell into place Sunday as Nicole Joraanstad's squad and Cassie Johnson's team secured the last two berths at the Women's National Qualifier in Utica, New York.

Johnson's squad, out of Minnesota, turned back the New York team skipped by Caitlin Costello, 9-7, in an extra end. Costello's team forced the extra end by scoring a single in the 10th end, but Johnson led her foursome to a deuce in the 11th for the win.

Joraanstad's team from Wisconsin, the 2001 U.S. Junior National Champions, earned its spot by defeating the Margie Smith team from Minnesota, 10-4, in their final game. Joraanstad guided her team to a 4-0 lead and then pulled away later in the game to win it in nine ends.

Those two squads join an six-team field that also includes:

Amy Wright's team that also includes Amy Becher, Nikki Baird, Natalie Simenson and Joni Cotton, who qualified by winning the 2000 U.S. Nationals.

Kari Erickson's squad f rom Illinois which includes Erickson, Debbie McCormick, Stacey Liapis and Ann Swisshelm, who earned a Trials berth by winning the 2001 U.S. Nationals.

Lori Mountford's squad from Wisconsin. Lineup includes Mountford, Jean Deans, Shelly Pape and Stephanie Radl. The squad earned it's way in earlier at the National Qualifier.

Patti Lank's team from Wisconsin that includes Lank, Erika Brown, Allison Pottinger, and Tracy Sachtjen. The squad earned it's way in earlier at the National Qualifier.

Men

Craig Brown and teammates Ryan Quinn, Jon Brunt and John Dunlop qualified by winning the 2000 U.S. National Championship and are representing the U.S. at the ongoing World Curling Championships.

The five teams that earned spots at the qualifer were:

Paul Pustovar and teammates Mike Peplinski, Dave Violette, Cory Ward and alternate Doug Anderson.

Scott Baird and teammates Matt Stevens, Cody Stevens and Phillip Drobnick.

Andy Borland and teammates David Johnson, Jeff Shapiro and Kevin Stevens.

Tim Somerville and teammates Mike Schneeberger, Myles Brundidge and John Gordon.

Doug Pottinger and teammates Troy Schroeder, Greg Johnson, Bill Todhunter and alternate Nate Gebert.