COLLEGE NATIONALS STARTING IN SCHENECTADY
Photo by: Jalen Marlowe
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, March 12, 2026] — Curling and academia will come together in historic Schenectady, NY, at the 2026 USA College Curling Nationals, running from March 12-15 at the storied Schenectady Curling Club.
Teams compete throughout the academic year, earning points towards qualification. In February, three regional college competitions were hosted at the Coyote Curling Club (West), Kettle Moraine Curling Club (Mid-West) and Utica Curling Club (East/GNCC).
After a season of play, 16 college teams have qualified for the championship. The schools that will compete for the national title in Schenectady are:
Bowdoin College
Castleton University
Colorado State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Michigan Technological Institute (Michigan Tech)
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
University of Denver
University of Minnesota - Duluth
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Nebraska - Omaha
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Yale University
Three teams have qualified for the event for the first time—Colorado State University, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
“We are indebted to the clubs that hosted events and the many others throughout the country who support and develop college curling programs”, said Sam Futch, Chair of the College Curling USA Committee.
USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell noted, “Nearly 80% of these players are new to the sport when they start to play in college. Clubs that develop college curlers consistently find that students continue to curl after graduation, and engage in it as a lifetime sport. It is a great feeder for our Member Clubs, and provides young people an opportunity to discover the competitive and social aspects that are helping to drive growth in the game.”
Gemmell added, “College Curling USA and USA Curling are truly grateful for the support of Schenectady Curling Club. Its members have worked tirelessly to create an outstanding competitive and social experience for the participants.”
Games will begin Friday, March 13 at 8:00 am and will be livestreamed throughout on the Schenectady Curling Club YouTube channel. Championship games will be at 12 PM ET on Sunday. More information about the event, including team rosters, results, and standings, can be on found on the USA Curling College Nationals page.
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.
