News

March 13, 2026

Wausau, WI –Wausau’s Matt Thums, who skips the U.S. Wheelchair curling team, always says their goal is get a medal. They didn’t achieve that at the Paralympics in Cortina, Italy, this week, but the young team gained valuable experience on world ice.

Needing to win its last games, it dropped one to Norway 5-3 Thursday night and then lost to undefeated Canada 7-3 in their final match, ending their medal quest. They finished with a record of 3-6 in round robin play.

Nonetheless, USA Curling posted a congratulatory note on its website and pointed out the team, with several new players, had performed well and would benefit from the international competition.

Canada, China, Sweden and Korea qualified for the final four, which began today and finishes tomorrow. The US team can take pride in having defeated both Sweden and Korea in regular play this past week.

Wausau, WI –Wausau West High School graduate Ella Wendling, and her teammate Benji Paral from Eau Claire, are the US Junior Mixed Doubles curling champions.

The pair went undefeated at the national playdowns last week at the Cape Cod Curling Center in Massachusetts. They defeated the Hollands-Grabow rink from North Dakota 8-7 in the championship match. The wining point came in the eighth or final end, after Hollands-Grabow had scored three in the seventh end.

The victory qualifies them to represent the United States in the Under-21 Mixed Doubles World Championships to be held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in May.

Wendling and Paral were bronze medal winners in the Junior World Olympics held in 2024.

They are coached by Jim Wendling, curling coach at Wausau West High School.

The Wausau West girl’s curling team won the Wisconsin state high school curling championship yesterday at the Wausau Curling Center., defeating Stevens Point 10-3 in the final match.

West scored four in the sixth end to break open a tight game, which was called after seven ends.

The Wausau East girls finished fourth, losing the consolation game to Pardeeville, also by a 10-3 score.

On the boy’s side, Poynette defeated Monona Grove 7-6 to win the state title, after trailing 6-2 in a game that came down to the last shot. Stevens Point outscored Portage in the consolation match.

Curling for West were Maggie Hintz, Caroline Kurth, Nora Mathias, Bella Duginski, and Hope Abbiehl (pictured)

The East team was made up of Carlie Kluz, Alexia Kufahl, Maddie Bellman, Chloe Buttke, and Nora Wright.

West went 3-0 in qualifying play which began Friday morning. They defeated Wausau East in the semi-finals before outscoring Point.

The tournament drew 32 teams from17 schools from around the state, approximately 150 student curlers in all. Other schools included D.C. Everest, Medford, Marshfield, Waupaca, Neenah, Kimberly, Appleton East, Lodi, and Waukesha West. The Portage boy’s and girl’s teams were defending champions.

Wausau, WI – A Wausau team came within a whisker of winning the Master’s division at the U.S. Senior Men’s Curling Association national championships held this past weekend at the Wausau Curling Center.

The Sirianni rink—manned by Steve Sirianni, Joel DeKoning, Eugene Geurink, and Harley Davison — lost to the Devore rink from Duluth, Minnesota 4-3 in the final match. Their final shot curled barely outside a Devore stone to give the Minnesotans the win. The game had been tied at 3 for several ends. The Masters division is for curlers over the age of 68.

The event—one of the largest curling tournaments in the United States—drew a total of 314 curlers on 74 teams from coast to coast, including Alaska. A local volunteer committee, headed by Randy Brandner, managed the five-day event. Some overflow games were held in Medford and Stevens Point.

Wining the Senior division for curlers over the age of 55 was the Faltesek rink of St. Paul, as they defeated the Pulsovar rink from Hibbing, Minnesota. In the Super Seniors division, for curlers ages 63-68, the Sharp rink from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, outscored the Team Lovick from Arlington, Wisconsin.

The USSMCA was founded in 1977. This was its 50^th national championship, the fourth to be held in Wausau.

Next up on the local curling ice will be the Wisconsin State High School curling championships, beginning next Friday.

Events at the curling center on Curling Way in Wausau are free and open for public viewing.

Over 300 curlers will converge on Wausau this week, competing in the U.S. Senior Men’s Curling Association National Championships. The action begins this Thursday morning (Feb. 19) on all eight sheets of ice at the Wausau Curling Center on Curling Way on the city’s southeast side.

“We are thrilled to have 78 teams signed up and ready to go for gold,” said event chair Randy Brandner. “We will have competition in the masters division for curlers over the age of 68, the super senior division for those over 63, and the senior division for curlers over the age of 55.” The oldest team will be from Medford, with an average age of 84.8. “It’s just great to see so many senior curlers continuing to play the game and compete,” Brandner added.

In addition to the Medford team, 14 other Wisconsin curling clubs will be represented in the tournament, including eight teams from Wausau, the host club. Other Badger state curling clubs include Rice Lake, Marshfield, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Centerville, Poynette, Lodi, Arlington, Madison, Wauwatosa, Kettle Moraine, Janesville, and Monroe.

Beyond the state’s boarders, curlers are coming from as far away as Alaska, North Carolina, California, Colorado, and Arizona.

The first draw will be at 8 a.m., Thursday, on the Wausau ice. Curling will continue throughout the day, with the final draw at 8:15 p.m. The same schedule will apply on Friday and Saturday. The championship games will be held on Sunday at 8:45 and 11:30 a.m.

In addition to the Wausau location, a number of games will be held at the Medford Curling Club on Whelen Street in Medford, and the Sentry Curling Center along I-39 in Plover, with the Stevens Point curling club hosting.

All games are free and open to the public for viewing.

Jim Force

The Lisa Landon rink won the championship in the All-American Women's Intraclub Bonspiel, January 31, 2026 at the Wausau Curling Club. Landon defeated the Theresa O'Leary rink in the first event finals.

 

Landon was joined by Meghan Harding and Linda Cotton. O'Leary's team included Ashley Bethke and Justine Parrish. The intraclub event featured four teams of three players each, playing 6-end games, rather than the traditional 4-person teams. 

 

The All-American is sponsored by the United States Women's Curling Association, which provides the championship pins. The event is designed to encourage new and less experienced women curlers to participate, offering a bonspiel experience within their local clubs and to foster a greater awareness of women's curling and the role of the USWCA.

 

In addition to the curling competition, a portion of the proceeds from the event is being donated to The Women's Community in Wausau.

 

Next up at the Wausau Curling Club is the 75^th Annual Men's Invitational Bonspiel, February 13-15. 

 

Photo (Standing, L to R) 1^st Event Runners Up: Theresa O'Leary, Ashley Bethke, Justine Parrish.  

(Seated, L to R) 1^st Event Winners: Lisa Landon, Meghan Harding, Linda Cotton

Wausau team wins state senior men’s curling crown

 Wausau, WI – A team skipped by Randy Brandner from the Wausau Curling Club won the Wisconsin State Senior Championship this past weekend.

The Brandner team bested five other teams during the competition, held at the Poynette and Arlington Curling Clubs. Curling with Brandner were Steve O’Keefe, Pete Susens, and Chuck Miller.

They defeated teams from Milwaukee, Janesville, Medford, Rice Lake, and Wausau. It was the Brandner team’s first championship after two runner up finishes in previous years.

Twenty-four senior men’s teams competed for the trophy.

“Olympic Fun” bonspiel at Wausau Curling Center

Jan. 20, 2026

 Wausau, WI – If you’re eager to watch curling at the Winter Olympics and get out on the ice for some curling yourself, the “Olympic Fun Bonspiel” set for Saturday, Feb. 7. at the Wausau Curling Center is for you.

The Wausau Curling Club is sponsoring the informal bonspiel for club members and non-members who’d like to try the game. In addition to curling, participants will be able to watch the US mixed doubles curling team in action at the Winter Games in Italy on the club’s large screen TV.

“It promises to be a fun day for all who like curling,” says Wausau Curling Club president Wally Gelhar. 

Cost is $30 per person for non-members. Wausau Curling Club members can curl for free. There will be complimentary beverages and snacks for all. Teams are guaranteed two games, starting at either 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Games will be six-ends long.

Register for the event by accessing the link at

https://wausaucurling.org/index.php/events/event-listings/bonspiels/58-2026-olympic-kick-off-fun-spiel

The Wausau Curling Center is located at 1920 Curling Way, on the city’s southeast side.

Jim Force

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Tietge Bonspiel Winners

Jim Force

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 Jan. 19, 2026

 Wausau, WI -- The Portage boys and girls teams swept the 73rd Annual Tietge High School bonspiel held this past weekend at the Wausau Curling Center, both teams winning the first event in their competition.  Among the local high school teams, the D.C. Everest girls finished as first event runners-up, their best finish in at least 10 years. The Wausau West boys won the second event, and the Wausau West girls won the third event.

Curling for the Everest girls team were Amelia Zimmermann, Tilly Palmer, Emma Danke, and Emma Kessler.

The West boys team included Reece Pagel, Gideon Mathias, Logan Frey, and Martin Gruetzmacher.

The West girls team was made up of Maggie Hintz, Caroline Kurth, Nora Mathias, Hope Abbiehi and Bella Dugunski.

Thirty-two teams representing 15 different schools participated. The event is one of the largest high school curling events in the country.

Teams will now prepare for the state high school championships in Wausau the last weekend in February.

The Ali Wangard Rink of Wauwatosa captured the 1st Event championship in the Wausau Highlanders Women’s Bonspiel, held January 9-11 at the Wausau Curling Center.

 

Wangard defeated the Women in STEM from the Chaska Curling Club in Chaska, MN in a nail-biter eight end game. With the game tied 7-7 after seven ends, Wangard’s final rock was a hit-and-roll that resulted in the game-winning point for the championship.

 

Wangard’s teammates were Melissa Hying, Amanda Taddey and Emily Krause. The Women in STEM were led by former Wausau West high school curlers Melissa Stenger and Sarah Baar, along with Jane Parkhust and Kate Mosner.

 

Wausau’s Hairy Coo Curlers defeated the McCurlers from St Paul Curling Club for the 2nd Event championship.

 

The Dawn Nonn Rink of Madison defeated the Bea Gresback Rink of St Paul for the 3rd Event and Milwaukee Curling Club’s Kathy Geracie Rink defeated Nessie’s Clan from Madison for the 4th Event title.

 

28 teams competed in the bonspiel, representing curling clubs from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Tennessee.

 

Next up at the Wausau Curling Center is the Tietge Bonspiel featuring high school curlers from around Wisconsin. Competition will be held Friday and Saturday at the center at 1920 Curling Way, Wausau. Admission is free.

 

Attached is a photo of the 1^st Event teams:  Winners (seated) - Ali Wangard Rink (L to R) Ali Wangard, Melissa Hying, Amanda Taddey, Emily Krause. Runners Up (standing) - Women in STEM (L to R) Melissa Stenger, Sarah Baar, Jane Parkhurst, Kate Mosner. 

First event winners Harley Davison  (Wausau) and Ron Wagner (Portage) seated. Runners up Dave Davies and Ray Kacvinsky (both Wausau) standing.

 

 Wausau Curling News

Jim Force (715-571-9571 talk or text)

Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025

Davison-Wagner win Kringle-Jingle at Wausau Curling Center

 

Wausau, WI -- The tandem of Harley Davison (Wausau) and Ron Wagner (Portage) won the fourth annual Kringle-Jingle two-person holiday bonspiel at the Wausau Curling Center Saturday.

Organized by Donna and Joel deKoning, the competition drew 16 teams totalling 32 curlers from Wausau, Waupaca, Medford, Stevens Point, Portage and Pardeeville.

Runnerup in the first event was the Wausau team of Dave Davies and Ray Kacvinsky.

The second even was won by Patti Rous and Betty Mortenson from Stevens Point. Third event victors were Wausau curlers Terry Ahrens and Dale Gerlach. The Waupaca team of Tim Lofgren and Deb Schmidt took the fourth event.

All competitors used the stick delivery method, pushing stones down the ice with special curling sticks. The two person teams throw just six rocks per end, rather than the customary eight, and there is no sweeping of the rocks down the sheet of ice.

The Wausau Curling Center is located at 1920 Curling Way on Wausau’s southeast side. All events are free to the public to watch.

Check the schedule at www.wausaucurling.org.

Tyler Berens' Swept not Stirred team captured the "Golden Muddler" trophy last weekend at the Wausau Curling Club's Supper Club Mixed Bonspiel, defeating Aches & Pains, Oh My,  8-4, in seven ends.

 

The Supper Club Mixed Bonspiel is a 32-team event that includes teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Kansas City and Massachusetts. The event draws on Wisconsin supper club traditions throughout the weekend and includes a Friday night fish fry for competitors.

 

Results for the event are below:

 

First Event winners: Swept not Stirred, Racine Blackhawk Curling Club. Skip Tyler Berens, Third Susan Thuriot, Second Chris Conley, Lead Kristen Feick.

First Event runners up: Aches & Pains, Oh My, Racine Blackhawk Curling Club. Skip Chris Anderson, Third Vicki Purcell, Second Jon Purcell, Lead Amanda Hytte.

 

Second Event winners: On the Rocks (2) Wausau Curling Club. Skip Bobby Splinter, Third Lori Ziegel, Second Jeff Ziegel, Lead Brooke Ewert.

Second Event runners up: Gartner Rink, St Paul/Wausau/Dakota Curling Clubs. Skip Tim Gartner, Third Ann Werth, Second Aaron Knewtson, Lead Mindy Spike

 

Third Event winners: Dusty on the Rocks, Brainerd Curling Club. Skip Dusty Nelson, Third Ginny McDonald, Second John Agre, Lead Andrea Agre

Third Event runners up: Nell Rink, Frogtown Curling Club. Skip Beth Juedes, Third Zac Nell, Second Erika Nell, Lead Levi Wolterstorff

 

Fourth Event winners: Lannoye Rink, Arlington (WI) Curling Club. Skip Andy Kolberg, Third Alexis Lannoye, Second Chris Lannoye, Lead Peyton Kolberg.

Fourth Event runners up: Mr Dibble Rink, Owatonna/Kansas City Curling Clubs. Skip Chris Dibble, Third Kim Swanson, Second Reilly Dibble, Lead Christina Naurat

 

Winners (Swept not Stirred) are seated and named L-to-R above. Runners Up (Aches & Pains) are standing and also named L-to-R above.

Check out the article below. 

City Pages News Article

Wausau Curling Club sponsors Junior Curling

Jim Force (715-571-9571) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Oct. 25, 2025

Young curlers invited to join Junior Curling

Wausau, WI – The Wausau Curling Club is signing up young curlers to participate in this year’s Junior Curling Season, which begins in November.

The curling program is open to all youngsters, grades 4-8. No previous experience is required. If you are new to the sport, club members will teach you how to deliver the curling rock and play the game.

Junior curling will take place at the Wausau Curling Center starting Sunday, Nov. 9, from 6-8 p.m. with an introductory session on curling skills , technique, and game rules. Junior curling will continue on Sunday evenings, 6-8 p.m. through Dec, 21. The season concludes with a junior “bonspiel” (tournament) on Dec. 26-28 for those juniors who wish to play in it.

Cost is $50 to cover insurance, refreshments, instruction, and merch, but no student will be turned away because of financial reasons.

Students do not have to come to all sessions, but can come when they are available.

For more information on signing up, the schedule, what to bring and wear, go to the club’s website, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The curling center is located at 1920 Curling Way on Wausau’s southeast side.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years Elks Bonspiel!

Fun was had by all who participated and we celebrate the below winners.

The Jillian Peterson rink of Stevens Point/Superior defeated the Bill Kind rink of Rice Lake, 7-4, to capture first event championship in the Wisconsin Elks Association bonspiel, Nov 1-2 at the Wausau Curling Center.

 

Peterson led 2-0 after the first two ends, but Kind battled back and led 4-3 heading into the last end. Peterson closed out the game with a takeout to score 4 points on her last shot of the game.

 

Twelve teams from around the state competed in the event, which travels to different curling clubs each year.

 

Next year's competition will be at the Rice Lake Curling Club.

 

Final Results:

 

1^st Event Winners: Jillian Peterson Rink, Stevens Point/Superior

1^st Event Runners Up: Bill Kind Rink, Rice Lake

2^nd Event Winners: Sillars Rink, Wausau

2^nd Event Runners Up: Roberts Rink, Marshfield

3rd Event Winners: Wendling Rink, Wausau

3rd Event Runners Up:  Banaski Rink, Stevens Point

4^th Event Winners: Peloquin Rink, Madison/Wausau

4^th Event Runners Up: Olli Rink, Marshfield

 

PHOTO identifications:

Standing (L to R) Bill Kind, skip; Kraig Smith, third; Mel Pearson, second; Pat Healy, lead.

Seated (L to R) Jillian Peterson, skip; Nate Peterson, third; Stephen Bayba, second; Kayla Ebert, lead.

 Until next year........Good Curling!

by Susan Peloquin