 Minnesota's Sarah Anderson/Andrew Stopera defeated Minnesota's Cory Thiesse/Korey Dropkin 7-4 to claim the Mixed Doubles Super Series Title in Kitchener-Waterloo at the KW Granite Club. By Connor Simms, #24 World-Ranked Sarah Anderson/Andrew Stopera were on fire at their first event of the 2025-2026 season. Andrew is primarily known for his four-person play with Korey Dropkin, while Sarah most recently played with Deleney Strouse but stepped away from four-person curling after last season. Anderson/Stopera were in the Mixed Doubles Super Series this week in Kitchener-Waterloo. They went 4-0 through the round robin. In their opening game, Anderson/Stopera defeated Katie Ford/Oliver Campbell (Waterloo, ON) 8-6, then won 7-4 against Smith/Niepage and 10-0 against Riley Craig/Brendan Craig (Guelph, ON). Anderson/Stopera won 11-5 against Kimberley Headley/Mike Aprile (Newmarket, ON) in their final qualifying round match. In the semi-final, they defeated Kira Brunton/Victor Pietrangelo (Ottawa, ON) 6-4. This set up a rematch of the USA Mixed Doubles Trials Final with Cory Thiesse/Korey Dropkin. They also went 4-0 through the round robin. In their opening game, Thiesse/Dropkin defeated McKenna Nathan/Daniel Krowchuk (Sarnia, ON) 9-1, then won 5-4 against Terri Weeks/Sam Steep (Kitchener, ON) and 9-1 against Michelle Butler/Jerry Butler (Guelph, ON). Thiesse/Dropkin won 8-6 against Brunton/Pietrangelo in their final qualifying round match. They then defeated Megan Smith/Dylan Niepage (Guelph, ON) 9-2 in the semi-final. Due to both teams being a perfect 4-0, it forced a draw to the button for the hammer, in which Anderson/Stopera won. In the first end, Anderson/Stopera was forced to their single point, making a lightweight hit and stick. Thiesse/Dropkin attempted a draw to the four-foot for their single in the second end, but came up light, giving up the steal of one. The third end saw an opportunity for six points for Thiesse/Dropkin, but came up wide on the double attempt, resulting in just three points. Anderson/Stopera immediately responded with two points, making a beautiful draw to the side of the four-foot. In the fifth end, Thiesse/Dropkin were forced to their single point, attempting a double tap on their last for a second point, but just missed. Anderson/Stopera used their power play in the sixth end, but were unable to generate a deuce, resulting in a hit and stick for their single point. Thiesse/Dropkin responded using their power play in the seventh end, failing to generate any offence. Thies/Dropkin chose to give up a single point to take the hammer into the last end. After a perfect freeze on Sarah's last, Thiesse/Dropkin had a possible double runback for two points to tie, but they were unable to make it, giving up one more and the 7-4 victory. This marks Anderson/Stopera's first win of the 2025/2026 season, as they look to generate momentum to win the Mixed Doubles Nationals to represent the USA at the World Championships later this season. Thiesse/Dropkin continue to prepare for the 2026 Olympic Games. Anderson/Stopera's next event on CurlingZone is in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Madtown Doubledown Presented by Motus Financial from December 4-7. |
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A five at the opening end of their first-ever match together in a major international competition sent Katie McMillan and Angus Bryce on their way to a dominant victory over the USA at the ACE & Company World Mixed Doubles Championships in Geneva.
