Defending Champs excited and confident.
10-20-24
Wausau, WI -- The defending champions in the USA Curling Arena National Championships in Wausau this week are excited to be coming here and confident they can win gold again.
Twelve women’s and 12 men’s teams from throughout the country will be on the local club’s ice beginning with practice rounds Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Wausau Curling Center, 1920 Curling Way on the city’s southeast side. Competitive curling continues Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 24-27, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the gold, silver and bronze final games starting at 2 p.m., Sunday.
The defending champion women’s team, led by skip Julie Segovia, is from the Houston, Texas, curling club. On the men’s side, the Nick Myers team from Dallas-Fort Worth are defending champs.
“We absolutely love curling in the Arena National Championship,” said Segovia over the weekend. “It is such a great experience when USA Curling sets us up in phenomenal venues like Wausau, and we are excited to curl on the fantastic ice conditions.”
Curling at a high level.
Segovia said her team--three-time defending champions--consists of enthusiastic and competitive individuals who strive to curl at a high level. “Our goal is to bring another gold medal home to Houston,” she said.
“We have trained hard to be prepared for this season.” However, with 11 of 12 ladies’ teams returning from last year, we know we will have to focus on one game at a time and play well to come out on top.”
Myers said it means a lot to his team to be defending champions, but the title brings added pressure. He said it’s difficult to win when everyone wants to beat you. “Winning back-to-back creates an even bigger target on you to perform well,” he said.
His team is experienced. “We have been together for over 10 years and have had a lot of success,” Myers said. “We use our strengths of staying in the moment to execute shots. We have a smart sweeping team and great communication that allows for great shot making. Strategy is also a strength of our team. It puts us in a good position every end to score.
“I feel we have a good chance to win again this year,” he said.
New to Wausau.
Myers said none of his team has played in Wausau before. “I stepped in the door (at Wausau) the very first year the new club opened,” he said, “and about two years after that as I was passing through town. I'm excited to see all the changes and what you have done to build the club.”
Segovia, whose team members include a nurse, two engineers, a psychologist and a geoscientist, curled in Wausau at the Club National Championships in 2023. “That was a great experience, and we are looking forward to the energy of the event and the welcoming we felt by your club,” she said.
The public is invited to attend any or all of the competition. Daily tickets are $10 at the door, with no charge for persons age 15 and under. You can buy the entire series for $30.
The opening ceremonies with a bagpipe march and community welcome are set for 3 p.m. Thursday. Octoberfest food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Curling Center.
The games will be live-streamed on the Wausau Curling Club’s You Tube channel.
The Arena Nationals bring together curling teams from USA Curling regions around the country who do not have dedicated ice to compete on, but play their games on community ice sheets (arenas) also used for hockey, skating, and other activities.
