Registered: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 70

Splitting off a topic from another thread.

High School curling activity around the USA.

Wisconsin? 30-40 teams? Is there a website? Is it just a one off tournament? Is there league play throughout the year? Who is driving this development, clubs or schools?

Any other states?

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Registered: Jan 2016
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Posts: 21

I believe Minnesota and North Dakota have high school curling as well but I'm not sure besides that. I know in Michigan we don't.

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

Minnesota once had high school curling but that is some years ago. More recently Minnesota had a high school bonspiel but it was not sanctioned by the schools [I think it may have been run by the Minn Curling Association]

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: St. Thomas, North Dakota
Posts: 2613

North Dakota has some high school curling. A minority of clubs offer an after-school opportunity, but no leagues and not many events.

Until last year, we did have a High School Championships. It was through the clubs and state curling association and not through the schools.

The hope of the USCA is that the new U-18 Championships will replace and greatly expand school-age curling.

Ben Tucker

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 70

Thanks for the info.

I want to keep this topic positive. How do we move forward?

Should States and Regions host a high school curling championship? Or more of a festival type fun event?

I agree the U18 might push player development to a younger age group. I believe that a HS team will be a bit different than a U18 team. A little more recreational. There is still room for fun in the curling.

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

I don't see this going anywhere. U18 and junior championship will take care of competitive curlers. For those looking for more fun in curling there are lots of junior bonspiels - at least in Minn and Wisc. Not sure that another path is needed.

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: McFarland, Wisconsin
Posts: 90

It is still a full-fledged letter sport at some schools in Wisconsin--Lodi, Portage, Poynette, Wausau, Medford are ones I know of. My dad and wife lettered in curling in Wausau. Those schools play each other regularly in addition to a state championship which many other schools participate in even if curling is not an official sport at their school. There is also a popular High School bonspiel at Wausau in January. High School curling is a nice niche and could be a potential growth area in the sport.

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: St. Thomas, North Dakota
Posts: 2613

Hit-n-roll? Jeremy is still alive? Nobody cares. How's your brother, Pat? We care about Pat.

Enough of my silliness. Back to discussions: HPP evil; USCA incompetent; we are doomed; etc...

Ben Tucker (haven't heard from Jeremy since he had kids)

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: McFarland, Wisconsin
Posts: 90

Haha hi Ben. Too long.

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Registered: Nov 2012
Location: In the crawlspace
Posts: 83

quote:

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Originally posted by coppercanuck
Thanks for the info.

I want to keep this topic positive. How do we move forward?

Should States and Regions host a high school curling championship? Or more of a festival type fun event?

I agree the U18 might push player development to a younger age group. I believe that a HS team will be a bit different than a U18 team. A little more recreational. There is still room for fun in the curling.

---

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 70

quote:

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Originally posted by ChiefIceMinion


liability issues

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Registered: Jan 2015
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 50

Just a note from the Canadian side. There was a time in Canada when there was no "Junior" curling (under 21) and any competitive curling for youth was based around school. You would play for the school, either on a chosen coached team or a team that won the school bonspiel or playdown. That team would then go to zones, if they won there then they went to provincials, then nationals. There is no longer a national competition, but the high school provincial championships still exist.

Junior curling in Canada was created when the national high school championship was dissolved and a lot of focus is now on Juniors. Curling is now just like a lot of other sports there are two different avenues for the sport. You can play high school curling and/or Junior curling. With the advent of the U 18 championships there is a Junior competition that has a parallel age group to the old high school championship. For both Junior and U 18 you enter a regional bonspiel, if you win that you go to provincials then nationals, then worlds.

The junior curling is great, no doubt about it. The U 18 was a much needed addition to youth curling. You tend to have a higher level of competition as you have serious and committed teams participating. There is however something to be said for having high school curling. It is a much lower barrier for entry and generally it has school support behind it to help supplement parental support. In my town there is a school league that gives kids an option that is a little more recreational. There is still a fairly high level of competition at both the zone (regional) and provincial level. This is the level you really need for curler recruitment. There are a lot of curlers in our club that curled in that league, and participated in the odd youth bonspiel (with no affiliation to the Juniors).

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