College Curling USA
College Curling USA is the governing body of collegiate Curling in the USA. The organization acts as the NCAA does in other college sports — setting game play, eligibility, and organizational rules. College Curling USA is affiliated with United States Curling Association (USCA), the organization responsible for organizing Olympic teams.[1]
History
The idea of college curling in the USA began in the late 1980s when the Illinois State Curling Foundation (ISCF) began to look into college curling, filling a gap between junior and adult curling levels. The ISCF, along with curling clubs, began promoting the idea of curling to schools.[2] National Tournament began in the early 1990s with only a few schools in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Since then, has boomed to more than 40 schools- mostly in the Northern tier of the US and Northeast US. New Programs are starting all over the USA as new clubs are being established.[3]
The Mission of the USA Curling College Championship is to promote the growth of college curling through the establishment of a national championship that encourages and rewards curlers attending a college or university who compete against their peers at other academic institutions throughout the school year
The Goal of the USA Curling College Championship is the promotion and development of on campus curling clubs and curling activities. While many college/university campuses have curlers who participate in curling activities at nearby community curling clubs, few have formally organized into campus clubs. There are many advantages to being a recognized on campus club including added student body exposure to curling activities and access to student organization funds that may help defray the costs of curling activities.[4]
In the 2012-13 season, more than 200 curlers from 36 colleges or universities participated in College Curling USA sanctioned events.[5]
For the 2014 Curling College Championship held in Blaine, MN, Taco Bell became an official corporate sponsor.[6]
Format
College teams compete in regional categories:
Until 2013 the regions were:
- Grand National (East Coast)
- Great Lakes
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
For the 2013 and 2014 championships, the regions were:[7]
- Region 1: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine
- Region 2: Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
- Region 3: Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois
- Region 4: Minnesota and North Dakota
- Region 5: Remainder of the US
Since 2014, the regions have been:[8]
- Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
- Region 2: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
- Region 3: Indiana, Illinois, Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Southern Wisconsin
- Region 4: Upper Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Northern Wisconsin
- Region 5: Remainder of the US
Invitations to the National Championship are awarded based on accumulated 'merit points'. Points are primarily earned by hosting and/or competing in a collegiate bonspiel. Points can also be collected through non-competition intercollegiate play or, for region 5 teams only, through other league play.
At least one school from each region receives an invitation to the national tournament.
The national tournament is typically held in March.
A team must be part of a recognized campus curling organization to be eligible to participate.
Competing schools (not all are currently active)[9]
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Bemidji State University
- Binghamton University
- Bismarck State College
- Boston University
- Bowdoin College
- Butler University
- Bowling Green State University
- Brown University
- California State University–Long Beach
- Carroll University
- Colgate University
- College of St. Scholastica
- Colorado School of Mines
- Eastern Michigan University
- Edgewood College
- Finlandia University
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- Hamilton College
- Hampshire College
- Harvard University
- Haverford College
- Hibbing Community College
- Illinois Valley Community College
- Itasca Community College
- Lake Forest College
- Lawrence Technological University
- Lawrence University
- Madison Area Technical College
- Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Marquette University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Mesabi Range College
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Minot State University
- Moorhead State University
- North Dakota State University
- Northwestern University
- Oakland University
- Ohio State University
- Ohio University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Rutgers University
- St. Olaf College
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- Unity College
- University of Alaska-Fairbanks
- University of California–Berkeley
- University of Denver
- University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- University of Maine–Orono
- University of Michigan
- University of Minnesota Duluth
- University of Minnesota Morris
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- University of North Dakota
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Tennessee
- University of Toledo
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin–Barron County
- University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
- University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- University of Wisconsin–Marshfield/Wood County
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
- University of Wisconsin–Rock County
- University of Wisconsin–Superior
- University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
- Villanova University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Weber State University
- Wellesley College
- Williams College
- Williston State College
- Winona State University
- Utah State University
- Yale University
2015 National Tournament
- Location: Rochester, NY - Rochester Curling Club
- Teams: 16
- Format: Four pool round robin
- Champion: University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
- Runner-up: University of Pennsylvania
- Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Fourth: Rochester Institute of Technology
- Fifth: Boston University
2014 National Tournament
The 2014 College Championship was the first to be officially recognized by the USCA.
- Location: Blaine, MN - Four Seasons Curling Club
- Teams: 16
- Format: Four pool round robin
- Champion: University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
- Runner-up: Villanova
- Third: Carroll University
- Fourth: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2013 National Tournament
- Location: Duluth, MN - Duluth Curling Club
- Teams: 16
- Format: Four pool round robin
- Champion: University of Minnesota
- Runner-up: College of Saint Benedict/ Saint John's University (MN)
- Third: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Fourth: Boston University
2011 National Tournament
- Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
- Teams: 32
- Divisions: 4
- Format: Round robin
The first place teams in each division
- Division 1 - *Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Division 2 - Villanova
- Division 3 - Northwestern University
- Division 4 - Bowdoin College
2010 National Tournament
- Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
- Teams: 32
- Divisions: 4
- Format: Round robin
The first place teams in each division
- Division 1 - University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
- Division 2 - Northwestern University
- Division 3 - Northwestern University
- Division 4 - Carroll College
2009 National Tournament
- Location: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club
- Teams: 32
- Divisions: 4
- Format: Round robin
The first place teams in each division
- Division 1 - University of Minnesota
- Division 2 - Hamilton College
- Division 3 - University of Tennessee
- Division 4 - Northwestern University
2008 National Tournament
The 2008 College Curling National Bonspiel was held in Chicago, IL in March at the Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club. 34 teams participated this year separated into 4 divisions separated by combined years of experience.
The first place teams in each division
- Division 1 - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
- Division 2 - Northwestern University
- Division 3 - Hamilton College
- Division 4 - Hamilton College
Tournament Sponsors
- United States Curling Association(USCA)
- Illinois State Curling Foundation
- Chicago Community Trust
See also
References
- ↑ "USCA Championships". United States Curling Association. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ↑ Larko, Rich (December/January 2011). "Students continue to curl beyond academic careers". CurlingNews. p. 6. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - ↑ "About: History". College Curling USA. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.collegecurlingusa.org/Championship_Guidelines/championship_guidelines.html
- ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Events/Championships/College-Curling
- ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Features/2014/March/15/National-College-Tournament-underway-in-Minnesota
- ↑ http://www.collegecurlingusa.org/Championship_Guidelines/championship_guidelines.html
- ↑ http://www.collegecurlingusa.org/Championship_Guidelines/championship_guidelines.html
- ↑ http://www.collegecurlingusa.org/Club_Links/club_links.html