 Chaska's Tabitha Peterson (Photo: Michael Woolheater) defeated Elizabeth Cousins (Nashua, NH) 8-4 to earn the right to represent the USA through the road to the Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. By Connor Simms, #19 World-Ranked Tabitha Peterson with Cory Thiesse at third, Tara Peterson and Taylor Anderson-Heide on the front end, were on a roll this season in preparation for the USA Olympic Curling Trials. Through six events this season, Peterson has qualified for the playoffs in all of them. Most notably, winning the Euro Super Series in Stirling, Scotland. Their event early this season was in preparation for the Olympic Trials. Four Years ago, in the last Olympic Trials, Tabitha and Tara defeated Cory and Taylor in the final. Through a six-game, double-round robin, they went 5-1. In their opening game, Peterson defeated Elizabeth Cousins (Nashua, NH) 9-5, then won 10-4 against Allory Johnson (Blaine, MN) and 8-5 against Delaney Strouse (Traverse City, MI). Peterson won 9-5 against Johnson, then won 10-8 against Cousins. Peterson went on to lose 8-5 against Strouse in their final qualifying round match. With the format, it led to the top-2 teams facing off in a best-of-three final. Cousins and Strouse finished 3-3 through the round robin, leading to them facing off in a tiebreaker in which Cousins took that one 9-5. In the opening game of the best-of-three final, Peterson defeated Cousins 7-4 to take a 1-0 lead. In the second game, Cousins started with the hammer after Peterson had it in the first game. Cousins opened the scoring in the first end after hitting and sticking the blank attempt. Peterson took an early lead at the end of two, drawing to the eight-foot for their deuce, then following it up with a steal of one after Cousins came up light on a draw. Cousins was forced in the fourth end, with a draw to the four-foot for one. After a blank in the fifth end, Cousins had an opportunity to force Peterson, but missing the double led to another deuce for Peterson drawing to the eight-foot. Cousins found their first deuce in the seventh end, making the hit and stick. To tighten the score to 5-4. Peterson immediately responded in the eighth end with a deuce, making an inoff double. Cousins had an opportunity for another deuce but flashed, leading to a steal of one. Ultimately, Peterson ran Cousins out of stones for the 8-4 victory in the tenth. Although they won the Olympic Trials, Peterson still has work to do. They will first have to qualify the USA for the Olympics, as they have yet to do so. They will join seven other countries competing for two additional spots at the Olympic Games in Kelowna, British Columbia, from December 5 to 18. The field will consist of Australia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Norway, Turkey and the United States. Cory is already attending the Olympic Games, as she has qualified in the Mixed Doubles with partner Korey Dropkin. |
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Manitoba's Kate Cameron (Photo: Curling Canada) announced on Monday that the team will look different for the new Olympic quadrennial.
