Last month in Lafayette, Colorado, and last week in Duluth, curling teams with members from Chaska won competitions to become National Champions.
In a sport that depends on coalitions more than geography, both teams are formed from talented individuals who have come together as teams that combine their separate skills.
On Feb. 3, Team Peterson became the USA Women’s National Champion after a series of matches and elimination play in Duluth. Named for the team’s skip Tabitha Peterson, they will represent the country at the World Championships in South Korea in March.
Chaska resident Taylor Anderson-Heide played on the team and also is in the ice crew at the city’s Curling Center.
On Jan. 12, the USA Men’s Under-18 Curling National Championship was climaxed by a win of Team Minnesota-Guentzel. Its members include Mason Guentzel, Will Podhradsky, Jackson Askew and Leighton Hines.
Guentzel is a high school junior, attending Central High School in Norwood Young America. From Chaska High School, Podhradsky is a junior and Hines is a freshman. Askew is a high school senior in Fargo, North Dakota. Their coaches are Stephen Dropkin and Tim Solen, 1988 Curling Olympian. Dropkin’s brother Korey is on the team that won the Men’s National Championship in Duluth this month.
Throughout the past year, the team has competed in qualifying contests (Bonspiels) and built their skills and confidence that add to their considerable experience despite their youth.
The team is hoping to repeat their 2024 win when they compete at a forthcoming St. Paul International Bonspiel in two weeks (Feb. 27-March 2). Link.
The Chaska Curling Center is the home ice for these champions and many others. Since it opened in December 2015, the venue has hosted many bonspiels and has become the location of choice for world-class curling teams and aspiring first-time learners. It has one of the largest memberships in the country and welcomes guests and spectators. Link.
To learn more about curling, the Minnesota Curling Association website provides an introduction. Link.
