American curling bubble, Wisconsin-style
A red, white and blue #bubblespiel, coming this May
Curling in Wisconsin is probably the most historic of all the American curling venues. There are 28 clubs in Wisconsin, second only to Minnesota, but unlike Minnesota, Wisconsin has not added a new club in the last 45 years. I guess when they already had 28 clubs in the 20th most populated state, where else can put them? Instead of building new clubs, clubs in the state seem to focus on renovating the ones they have. They have a well-regulated high school championship and produce some great athletes, such as Nina Roth and the Matt/Becca Hamilton and Erika/Craig Brown, but they all become associated with USA teams in Minnesota. But you rarely hear about “Wisconsin teams” anymore. Then again many of the teams are melded together from across the country; we have no restrictions down here. But the point is, the club scene is very well established in Wisconsin.
For example, look at the club in Wausau. (Clubs are usually not much to look at on the outside.)
This is an eight-sheeter. The Wausau Curling Center, whose club dates back to 1920, was built in 2012. Its address is, fittingly, 1920 Curling Way. The road has very little else, and stretches a half mile for some reason.
But anyway, it’s going to be home to the USA curling bubble in May. (Like Canada’s, but ours.)
I do appreciate that it’s happening at a club, and one that’s slightly off the beaten path (read: not Minnesota). I don’t know if they’ll use all eight sheets at a time. USA’s national championships typically go with five sheets at a time. I wonder if they’ll use the standard arena setting to set up just five. I also hope TESN finds its way into the bubble, although by May are we going to be burnt out on curling? (Nobody can say for sure, but probably not.)
These May championships will not roll up to worlds (since those are happening in April) but they will help decide which teams will qualify for the Olympic trials, which is important.
They’re starting with mixed doubles May 19-23, followed by men’s/women’s from May 25-31. The only schedule conflict here is Tabitha Peterson, who cannot play in the mixed doubles event because she and Joe Polo are already going to world mixed doubles in Scotland that same week. There is no way she’ll be able to get back and quarantine in time to play the women’s event, even if she wanted to (her team is already into the Trials) but Roth could easily skip the rest of the team (and maybe even steal the position back). But we’ll know more once the teams are picked.
And who knows, maybe just maybe it’ll help instill some fresh energy into the historic Wisconsin curling scene.