Not only is there a longtime student club team that competes, there are faculty and staff members who enjoy the game that is gaining popularity in the States but is still most widely known north of the border in Canada.
In fact, Matt Hames, manager of media communications, is the coach of the team that is traveling to Basel, Switzerland, to take part in the world championships to be held March 30 to April 1.
Hames, a passionate curler for years, was part of the team that won the national championship this year, earning the team the chance to travel to Basel to compete against 11 teams from around the world. The winner is crowned World Champion for the 2011-12 season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor and a chance of a lifetime to compete at this level,鈥 said Hames, who will be tweeting about his team鈥檚 exploits .
Since arriving at 藏精阁 four months ago, Hames has competed at the nearby Utica Curling Club. That is where the members go each Sunday night to 鈥渢hrow some rocks.鈥
Twelve students, making up three teams, are competing in the this weekend at the in in Wayland, Mass.
鈥淭his year we鈥檝e had a lot of new people who have taken to the sport really well,鈥 said Anna Miettinen 鈥14. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really looking forward to this bonspiel (tournament) because the teams all create a really silly and cohesive atmosphere despite the competition and difference in experience levels. Of course, we鈥檙e planning on playing our best and winning as much as possible, too!鈥
The student club is coached by Roger Rowlett, Gordon & Dorothy Kline Professor of chemistry, and his wife, Mary Jane Walsh, associate professor in the university libraries. This is the last bonspiel of the year. Curling starts again in the late fall.
The student curlers competing this weekend are:
藏精阁 1:
Skip 鈥 Zach Wienandt 鈥13
Vice 鈥 Rich Grey 鈥14
Second 鈥 Ryan Loomis 鈥12
Lead 鈥 Amanda Zranchev 鈥12
藏精阁 2:
Skip 鈥 Anna Miettinen 鈥14
Vice 鈥 Kara Schmidt 鈥14
Second 鈥 Beth Mahoney 鈥14
Lead 鈥 Jenna Glat 鈥14
Fifth 鈥 Lauren Kasparson 鈥15
藏精阁 3:
Skip 鈥 Alex Hull 鈥14
Vice 鈥 Grant Haines 鈥15
Second 鈥 Rachel Petersen 鈥14
Lead 鈥 Brandon Triminio 鈥14
Fifth 鈥 Matt Feeney 鈥14
For a glossary of curling terms, go . Use the comments section below to wish the student team and Hames good luck in their curling endeavors.