College Curling USA

College Curling USA is the governing body of collegiate Curling in the USA. The organization acts as the NCAA does in other college sports — setting game play, eligibility, and organizational rules. College Curling USA is affiliated with United States Curling Association (USCA), the organization responsible for organizing Olympic teams.[1]

History

The idea of college curling in the USA began in the late 1980s when the Illinois State Curling Foundation (ISCF) began to look into college curling, filling a gap between junior and adult curling levels. The ISCF, along with curling clubs, began promoting the idea of curling to schools.[2] National Tournament began in the early 1990s with only a few schools in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Since then, has boomed to more than 40 schools- mostly in the Northern tier of the US and Northeast US. New Programs are starting all over the US as new clubs are being established.[3]

The Mission of the USA Curling College Championship is to promote the growth of college curling through the establishment of a national championship that encourages and rewards curlers attending a college or university who compete against their peers at other academic institutions throughout the school year

The Goal of the USA Curling College Championship is the promotion and development of on campus curling clubs and curling activities. While many college/university campuses have curlers who participate in curling activities at nearby community curling clubs, few have formally organized into campus clubs. There are many advantages to being a recognized on campus club including added student body exposure to curling activities and access to student organization funds that may help defray the costs of curling activities.[4]

In the 2012-13 season, more than 200 curlers from 36 colleges or universities participated in College Curling USA sanctioned events.[5]

For the 2014 Curling College Championship held in Blaine, MN, Taco Bell became an official corporate sponsor.[6]

Format

College teams compete in regional categories:

Until 2013 the regions were:

  • Grand National (East Coast)
  • Great Lakes
  • Minnesota
  • North Dakota
  • Wisconsin

For the 2013 and 2014 championships, the regions were:[7]

  • Region 1: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine
  • Region 2: Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
  • Region 3: Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois
  • Region 4: Minnesota and North Dakota
  • Region 5: Remainder of the US

Since 2014, the regions have been:[8]

  • Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
  • Region 2: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
  • Region 3: Indiana, Illinois, Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Southern Wisconsin
  • Region 4: Upper Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Northern Wisconsin
  • Region 5: Remainder of the US

Invitations to the National Championship are awarded based on accumulated 'merit points'. Points are primarily earned by hosting and/or competing in a collegiate bonspiel. Points can also be collected through non bonspiel ("head to head") intercollegiate play or, for region 5 teams only, through other bonspiels and leagues. Team members must be members of the USCA in order to earn points.

At least one school from each region receives an invitation to the national tournament.

The national tournament is typically held in March.

Competing schools (not all are currently active)[9]

2019 National Tournament
  • Location: Wayland, MA - Broomstones Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: North Dakota State University
  • Runner-up: SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  • Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Fourth: Yale University
  • Consolation: Syracuse University

2018 National Tournament
  • Location: Eau Claire, WI - Eau Claire Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  • Runner-up: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • Third: Yale University
  • Fourth: University of Pennsylvania
  • Consolation: Rochester Institute of Technology

2017 National Tournament
  • Location: Whitesboro, NY - Utica Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Minnesota
  • Runner-up: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  • Third: University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  • Fourth: Harvard University

2016 National Tournament
  • Location: Chaska, MN - Chaska Curling Center
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Pennsylvania
  • Runner-up: University of Minnesota
  • Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Fourth: Colgate University
  • Fifth: Hamilton College

2015 National Tournament
  • Location: Rochester, NY - Rochester Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  • Runner-up: University of Pennsylvania
  • Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Fourth: Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Fifth: Boston University

2014 National Tournament

The 2014 College Championship was the first to be officially recognized by the USCA.

  • Location: Blaine, MN - Four Seasons Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
  • Runner-up: Villanova University
  • Third: Carroll University
  • Fourth: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2013 National Tournament
  • Location: Duluth, MN - Duluth Curling Club
  • Teams: 16
  • Format: Four pool round robin
  • Champion: University of Minnesota
  • Runner-up: College of Saint Benedict/ Saint John's University (MN)
  • Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Fourth: Boston University

2011 National Tournament
  • Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
  • Teams: 32
  • Divisions: 4
  • Format: Round robin

The first place teams in each division:

  • Division 1 - *Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Division 2 - Villanova
  • Division 3 - Northwestern University
  • Division 4 - Bowdoin College

2010 National Tournament
  • Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
  • Teams: 32
  • Divisions: 4
  • Format: Round robin

The first place teams in each division

  • Division 1 - University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
  • Division 2 - Northwestern University
  • Division 3 - Northwestern University
  • Division 4 - Carroll College

2009 National Tournament
  • Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
  • Teams: 32
  • Divisions: 4
  • Format: Round robin

The first place teams in each division

  • Division 1 - University of Minnesota
  • Division 2 - Hamilton College
  • Division 3 - University of Tennessee
  • Division 4 - Northwestern University

2008 National Tournament

The 2008 College Curling National Bonspiel was held in Chicago, IL in March at the Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club. 34 teams participated this year separated into 4 divisions separated by combined years of experience.

The first place teams in each division

  • Division 1 - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
  • Division 2 - Northwestern University
  • Division 3 - Hamilton College
  • Division 4 - Hamilton College

Tournament sponsors

See also

References
  1. "USCA Championships". United States Curling Association. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  2. Larko, Rich (December/January 2011). "Students continue to curl beyond academic careers". CurlingNews. p. 6. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. "About: History". College Curling USA. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Features/2014/March/15/National-College-Tournament-underway-in-Minnesota
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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