Daily PebbleMonday, Feb. 16, 2015

MEN:Craig Brown 3-0John Shuster 3-0Brandon Corbett 2-1Dean Gemmell 2-1Mark Haluptzok 2-1Korey Dropkin 1-2Heath McCormick 1-2Paul Pustovar 1-2Brady Clark 0-3Ethan Meyers 0-3WOMEN:Erika Brown 3-0Cory Christensen 2-1Patti Lank 2-1Aileen Sormunen 2-1Debbie McCormick 2-1Kate Bert 1-2Jordan Moulton 1-2Nina Roth 1-2 Kim Wapola 1-2Joyance Meechai 0-3

Draw 6 scores (men):Korey Dropkin 7, Paul Pustovar 3John Shuster 9, Heath McCormick 5Dean Gemmell 7, Brandon Corbett 6Mark Haluptzok 9, Ethan Meyers 8Craig Brown 7, Brady Clark 5 (extra end)

Draw 5 scores (women):Cory Christensen 9, Joyance Meechai 6Erika Brown 7, Aileen Sormunen 5Jordan Moulton 7, Kate Bert 2Patti Lank 9, Kim Wapola 4Debbie McCormick 10, Nina Roth 8

Draw 4 scores (men):Heath McCormick 7, Dean Gemmell 2Craig Brown 9, Paul Pustovar 4Brandon Corbett 5, Brady Clark 4Mark Haluptzok 7, Korey Dropkin 6

Draw 3 scores (women):Aileen Sormunen 6, Jordan Moulton 0Nina Roth 10, Kim Wapola 2Cory Christensen 7, Kate Bert 3Erika Brown 12, Patti Lank 6Debbie McCormick 8, Joyance Meechai 7 (EE)

Standings: The

The official publication of the 2015 USA Curling National Championships

Pulling Double Duty

Wanted: Super fans

There’s a nati onal championship on the line this week but several of the competi tors have already qualifi ed in a

diff erent discipline this season and are sharp-ening their draw weight and takeout skills in preparati on.

Team Cory Christensen and Team Ethan Meyers depart for Estonia just three days aft er the conclusion of the Nati onals in Kalamazoo for the 2015 World Junior Championships in Tallinn. Coaches Linda Christensen (Team Mey-ers) and Ken Trask (Team Clark) as well as Team Pustovar’s Duane Rutan will represent the U.S.

at the 2015 World Senior Championships. Two of the youngest athletes in the fi eld will

punch their passports for two world champion-ships in March and April. Sweethearts Sarah Anderson (Broomall, Pa.) and Korey Dropkin (Southborough, Mass.) will head to World Juniors and then team up for the 2015 World Mixed Doubles in Sochi, Russia, also the site of the World Senior Championships.

Coverage from these world events will be highlighted on the World Curling Federati on’s YouTube channel. Visit www.usacurl.org for links to the schedules as the events draw near.

The sport of curling is the fastest grow-ing Olympic winter sport in the United States. As parti cipati on in the sport increases, so does the number of fans

cheering our teams along the way. This has in turn increased people’s interest in learning more about the strategy and rules of curling, and our fan club is changing to bett er allow our members to understand and keep up with the news.

Members of the USA Curling Fan Club receive the U.S. Curling News, the offi cial magazine of USA Curling, as well as all digital communicati ons sent to our curling members, which includes the newslett er Stone Soup, press releases and updates about other events around the country. Members will also receive our “Rocked by Curl-ing” T-shirt.

As the program builds, we look to support regional events at local curling clubs and/or bars to watch televised events, helping to spread the word to other Fan Club members in the region that a viewing party is happening.

The membership price is only $35, which will cover the cost of the magazine and T-shirt and a small donati on to USA Curling.

Please contact Michelle Schleibaum, Direc-tor of Philanthropy, with questi ons or for more informati on: michelle.schleibaum@usacurl.org or 608-338-5600. Visit htt p://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Shop/Fan-Club-Membership to learn more!

Ethan Meyers is the reigning U.S. junior champion and will head to Estonia aft er his stay in Kalamazoo. Photo by Rich Harmer, USA Curling

Competi tors in this year’s Nati onals already headed to a world championship: • World Juniors, Feb. 28-March 8, Tallinn,

Estonia: Cory Christensen, Sarah Anderson, Mackenzie Lank, Jenna Haag, Taylor Ander-son, Ethan Meyers, Quinn Evenson, Steven Szemple, William Pryor, Korey Dropkin

• World Seniors, April 18-25, Sochi, Russia: Linda Christensen, Ken Trask, Duane Rutan

• World Mixed Doubles, April 18-25, Sochi, Russia: Sarah Anderson, Korey Dropkin

Want to go to a hockey game to balance your sports week? We have two ti ckets to Wednesday night’s K-Wings game here at Wings Stadium. Be the fi rst to fi nd the Daily Pebble editor and provide her with the correct answer to this ques-ti on: Which male in the 2015 Nati onals fi eld has won the most U.S. men’s nati onal ti tles?

Feel like winnning?

sundya.indd 1 2/15/15 11:04 PM

All aboard to Sapporo, Halifax

The Daily Pebble

Editor: Terry L. KolesarAssistant Editors: Rick Patzke, Amelia YoungEditorial Assistants: Ian Strong, Meredith StrongPhotography: Rich Harmer

www.usacurl.org

Story ideas? Email the editor, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org

The Daily Pebble is brought to you by this great sponsor:

Today: High: 17, ptly cloudyLow: 10Tuesday:High: 25, snowyLow: 8Wednesday:High: 13, snowyLow: 0Thursday: High: 10, snowyLow: -4

TK’s Weather Forecast

2 usacurl.org)) usa Curling (( 3

Head downtown for dinner

The teams earning the most Order of Merit points this season will move on to represent the U.S. at the upcoming

world championships. Along with declaring the new national

champions for USA Curling, this event will also determine who will represent the U.S. at the 2015 World Curling Championships. In contrast to years past, the World teams will not automatically be the winners of the Nationals. Last season a points-based Order of Merit system was implemented based on team results at major competitions through-out the season, including the 2015 Nationals. The 2015 World representatives will be the men’s and women’s teams with the most points that finish in the top three at the 2015 Nationals.

The 2015 World Women’s Championship will take place March 14-22 in Sapporo, Japan (photo at right). The men’s event will take

place March 28-April 5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (top photo). The U.S. last medaled at the worlds in 2007 (bronze, men) and hope to top the podium this year in Japan and Canada. Go USA!

By Sarah Lee, Wings Stadium

Downtown Kalamazoo is a foodie and beer aficionado’s haven, filled with many restaurants and bars to choose from to satiate your appetite. From Italian to European and assortment of des-

sert shops, the journey of taste is endless and all within short walking dis-tance from the Curling Nationals host hotel, Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites.

For a quick bite, any Kalamazoo visitor must try Old Burdick’s Down-town. Burdick’s features pub fare made with local fresh ingredients and they offer a lunch combo menu starting at $8 featuring soups, salads and sandwiches that you can pick and choose. While at Burdick’s make sure to check out their feature 48 craft beers on tap. During the Curling Nationals week, microbrew fans will be able to enjoy Burdick’s featured $4 select craft beers from Perrin Brewing Company, a brewery located 10 miles north of Grand Rapids.

If you are seeking entertainment during dinner, there are two hot spots in Downtown Kalamazoo - Zazios and The Union. Zazios Italian Restau-rant + Bar, located on the lobby level of the Radisson, features a unique experience at the Chef’s Table. Offered on Thursday through Friday, engage with our chef while he prepares a five-course menu featuring a chocolate theme in February (hint: each month the menu theme changes) and stadium-style seating comfortably for 16 people. An alternate en-tertainment dining experience is The Union Cabaret & Grill featuring live music entertainment on stage in a cabaret-style seating area Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 7pm daily and a southern themed menu. Make sure to check out the fried okra and lobster fondue amongst its many specialty items.

For a leisurely dining experience, try Webster’s Prime, a steak house featuring a great selection of steak cuts, seafood and a tasting menu to explore a wider variety of flavors. Chef Stefan Johnson’s personal recipe is the truffled potatoes au gratin, a great side dish to any steak selection.

With every great meal at Webster’s, a delicious glass of wine or a frosty beer is a must to accompany your dish of choice. The servers are extreme-ly knowledgeable about their wine and beer selection, ask your server for more details.

Still looking for other varieties of cuisine? Visit 2015curlingnationals.com under the Visit tab to learn more about other amazing restaurants and breweries to explore during your stay in Kalamazoo. If time permits, visit DiscoverKalamazoo.com for a copy of a self-guided tour of breweries and wineries, both walking distance and a short car ride.

TOURING KALAMAZOO

Point of interest: The Alamo Drafthouse Opened in Downtown Kalamazoo in 2013,

The Alamo Drafthouse (above) is a very unique movie viewing experience. You can order your favorite foods and drinks and have them deliv-ered to you while your movie is going on. You never have to leave your seat and miss an im-portant scene again. Check out movie times at http://drafthouse.com/kalamazoo/kalamazoo.

Three-time Olympian John Shuster (top, front) is flanked by Nationals rook-ies, and newly crowned junior champions Quinn Evenson (left) and Steven Szemple. A drip from above was the third opponent for Team Dropkin and Team Haluptzok (at right, top) as Dave Staveteig (chief icemaker) adjusts a bucket to collect the water in between shots. Team Pustovar’s Chris Bond (at right, bottom) and Duane Rutan sweep a stone for Sam Galey.

Team Meechai’s Katie Rhyme, playing in her first women’s national championship, delivers a stone dur-ing the round robin at Wings Stadium. Team Meechai lost two close games on Sunday afternoon.

sundya.indd 2 2/15/15 11:04 PM