KAWLESKI/KAUFFMAN CAPTURE 2026 MIXED DOUBLES TITLE
Photo by: Lainie Hiller
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, January 26, 2026] — Rachel Kawleski and Connor Kauffman claimed the USA Curling Mixed Doubles National Championship with an 8-4 win in the final game over Ella Fleming and Jackson Bestland. With that victory, Kawleski/Kauffman will represent the United States at the 2026 Ace & Company World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Geneva, Switzerland.
Both teams advanced to the final after impressive semi final performances. Kawleski/Kauffman secured their spot in the championship game by defeating 2025 silver medalists Fenson/Stopera (Sarah Fenson, Andrew Stopera) 6-4, while Fleming/Bestland earned their place after topping Moores/Wheeler (Clare Moores, Lance Wheeler) 6-5 in the other semifinal.
Following the game, Kauffman said, “We’re stoked. Any time you get to put the flag on your back, it’s a special moment. I’m excited to go represent the country well and have some fun doing it.”
“Wearing the American flag on my back is a great honor that I am very excited for,” added Kawleski. “I am proud of how we played in Bemidji and looking forward to what we'll do in Switzerland.”
A total of 16 teams came to the Bemidji Curling Club in Bemidji, MN, to vie for the 2026 title. The competed in two pools—A and B—of eight teams each. The winners of each pool advanced directly to the semifinals, while the second and third place finishers played in a qualification round.
Both Fleming/Bestland and Kawleski/Kauffman competed in Pool A and finished with identical 5-2 records, earning them second and third place and advancing to the Qualification Round. Stopera/Fenson finished pool play with a 7-0 record. All results, including scores and Draw Shot Challenge results, can be found in the Event Hub on the Mixed Doubles Nationals Championship page.
The Ace & Company World Mixed Doubles Championship gets underway on April 25th and runs through May 2nd.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
