CURLING: Bemidji to be represented in USA National Championships
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The USA National Championships for men’s and women’s curling begins today here and, once again, Bemidji will be well represented.
In the women’s division the Allison Pottinger rink returns to defend its 2012 title. The team includes Natalie Nicholson of Bemidji.
Another Bemidji native, Jamie Haskell, will play on the Laura Roessler rink. That team usually is skipped by Cassie Potter of Bemidji but Potter will have to miss this year’s tournament because she is pregnant.
In last year’s final the Pottinger rink nipped the Potter rink 7-5.
This year’s men’s tournament includes the Pete Fenson rink. Fenson hails from Bemidji as do teammates Joe Polo and Ryan Brunt. The team’s vice-skip is Shawn Rojeski of Chisholm.
A year ago Fenson advanced to the playoff final where the team was defeated 5-4 by the Heath McCormick rink.
McCormick is back to defend its title. The tournament includes 10 men’s and 10 women’s teams and will follow a round-robin format.
The top four teams following the round-robin competition will advance to the Page Playoffs. The championship matches will be played Feb. 16. The women will hit the ice at 9 a.m. and the men at 3 p.m.
USA Curling Nationals
Women’s Division
Teams: Laura Roessler (includes Bemidji curler Jamie Haskell), Allison Pottinger (includes Bemidji curler Natalie Nicholson), Sarah Anderson, Erik Brown, Alex Carlson, Cristin Clark, Courtney George, Becca Hamilton, Shelly Kinney, Patti Lank
Roessler/Pottinger Schedules
Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m.: Pottinger vs. Lank; Roessler vs. Clark
Feb. 10, 8 a.m.: Pottinger vs. Anderson; Roessler vs. Carlson
Feb. 10, 4 p.m.: Roessler vs. George; Potitnger vs. Hamilton
Feb. 11, 8 a.m.: Pottinger vs. Kinney; Roessler vs. Brown
Feb. 11, 4 p.m.: Roessler vs. Pottinger
Feb. 12, 9 a.m.: Roessler vs. Lank; Pottinger vs. Clark
Feb. 12, 7 p.m.: Pottinger vs. Brown; Roessler v s. Anderson
Feb. 13, noon: Roessler vs. Hamilton; Pottinger vsl.Carlson
Feb. 13, 8 p.m.: Roessler vs. Kinney; Pottinger vs. George
Feb. 14, noon: Tiebreakers
Feb. 14, 8 p.m.: Page Playoffs
Feb. 15, 2 p.m.: Page semifinals
Feb. 16, 9 a.m.: Page final
Men’s Division
Teams: Pete Fenson (includes Bemidji curlers Pete Fenson, Joe Polo and Ryan Brunt), Greg Persinger, Ryan Lemke, Todd Birr, Mike Farbelow, Heath McCormick, John Shuster, Tyler George, Craig Brown
Fenson’s Schedule
Feb. 9, 8:30 p.m.: Fenson vs. Brown
Feb. 10, noon: Fenson vs. Persinger
Feb. 10, 8 p.m.: Fenson vs. George
Feb. 11, noon: Fenson vs. Clark
Feb. 11, 8 p.m.: Fenson vs. Farbelow
Feb. 12, 2 p.m.: Fenson vs. Lemke
Feb. 13, 8 a.m.: Fenson vs. McCormick
Feb. 13, 4 p.m.: Fenson vs. Birr
Feb. 14, 8 a.m.: Fenson vs. Shuster
Feb. 14, 4 p.m.: Tiebreakers
Feb. 15, 9 a.m.: Page Playoffs
Feb. 15, 8 p.m.: Page semifinals
Feb. 16, 3 p.m.: Page final