Submitted by Jim Force to Wausau Pilot & Review
The USA Wheelchair Curling team—dominated by Wisconsin players—begins its quest for an international championship in South Korea this weekend.
With the Wausau Curling Club’s Matt Thums playing a vital role, the team took on Italy early Saturday morning (our time) in the first round of the World Wheelchair Curling Championships at the same Gangneung curling facility where Wausau’s Ella Wendling medaled in the Youth Olympics mixed doubles competition in February.
Curling with Thums are Shawn Sadowski of Portage, Laura Dwyer of Oconomowoc, Steve Emt who has relocated from Connecticut to Wisconsin, and Oyuna Uranchimeg from the Twin Cities.
Following team play, mixed doubles teams will take the ice beginning March 11. Thums and Uranchimeg won the U.S. championship this year and will represent the U.S.
“We have been acclimating well these last couple of days,” Thums said. “After pre-event practice we play Italy the next day.”
In wheelchair curling, there are no sweepers, so shot-making is paramount. Curlers must push their rocks down the ice with an archer’s accuracy.
South Korea is 13 hours ahead of us. The action can be followed on www.worldcurling.org.
