SHUSTER, STROUSE TO REPRESENT COUNTRY AT 2026 WORLD CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Photo by: Jalen Marlowe
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, March 2, 2026] — It was newcomers and veterans emerging victorious at the 2026 USA Curling Men’s & Women’s Nationals at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC.
On the men’s side, Team Shuster (John Shuster, Chris Plys, Colin Hufman, Matt Hamilton) won the Sugahara Cup with a last-rock, extra-end win over Team Stopera (Andrew Stopera, Thomas Howell, Mark Fenner, Lance Wheeler). For Shuster himself, it was his 11th national men’s championship, and his eighth at the skip position. For his current lineup, it concluded a run that saw them win three of the last four national championships, but nothing came easy against the Stopera foursome. Shuster dropped the Page 1-2 Game and trailed throughout the well-played final.
In the women’s division, it was the members of Team Strouse (Delaney Strouse, Anne O’Hara, Sydney Mullaney, Madison Bear) putting their names on the trophy for the first time. After dropping the 1 vs. 2 Page Playoff game against Team Cousins (Elizabeth Cousins, Annmarie Dubberstein, Allison Howell, Liz Janiak), who topped round-robin play with a 6-1 record, Strouse and her teammates rallied and maintained control throughout the final. Up three without last rock in the tenth end, the team only needed to remove one Cousins counter with their last stone to secure the win.
Even in an Olympic year, World Curling holds championships. In 2026, the LGT World Men’s will be in Ogden, UT, while the BKT World Women’s will be in Canada in Calgary.
“We faced some facility challenges during this event,” said USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “But all the competitors in the field showed resilience and the final games were terrific showcases for our sport. Many thanks to our ice crew, the Charlotte Curling Association, and to the local staff for making the event possible.”
The women’s bronze medalists were Team Rhyme (Kim Rhyme, Stephanie Senneker, Libby Brundage, Anya Normandeau), who defeated Team Podoll (Ann Podoll, Sidney Schroeder, Rachel Kawleski, Kenzie Ritchie) in the 3 vs. 4 Page Game. The men’s bronze medalists were Team Tuma (Kevin Tuma, Sam Strouse [4th], Coleman Thurston, Connor Kauffman), who topped Team Dunnam (Scott Dunnam, Cody Clouser, Alex Leichter, Andy Dunnam, Shaheen Bassiri) in the 3-4 Game.
“The level of play in Charlotte was hight, and there was great energy in the building on the weekend,” Gemmell added. “We know our teams will represent the country well at the World Championships, and build on the momentum we carry from the Olympic Games.”
MEN’S TEAMS
Team Shuster (John Shuster, Chris Plys, Colin Hufman, Matt Hamilton)
Team A. Stopera (Andrew Stopera, Tom Howell, Mark Fenner, Lance Wheeler)
Team Dunnam (Scott Dunnam, Cody Clouser, Alex Leichter, Andy Dunnam, Shaheen Bassiri)
Team Tuma ( Sam Strouse, Kevin Tuma, Coleman Thurston, Connor Kauffman)
Team Wendling (Ethan Sampson, Wes Wendling, Jake Zeman, Marius Klenias)
Team Mansell (Elliot Mansell, Daniel Dudt, Sean Franney, Simon Jarrett)
Team Hodek (Tim Hodek, Evan Workin, Josh Moore, Nathan Parry)
Team McMullin (Carson McMullin, Caidan Rose, Will Podhrasky, Ethan Macomber)
WOMEN’S TEAMS
Team Cousins (Elizabeth Cousins, Annmarie Dubberstein, Allison Howell, Liz Janiak)
Team Strouse (Delaney Strouse, Anne O’Hara, Syndey Mullaney, Madison Bear)
Team M. Stopera (Megan Stopera, Addison Neill, Ella Fleming, Savannah Koch)
Team McMakin (Christine McMakin, Jordan Hein, Susan Dudt, Tessa Thurlow)
Team Weldon (BriAnna Weldon, Sarah Walsh, Abigail Lin, Kate Garfinkel)
Team Rhyme (Kim Rhyme, Stephanie Senneker, Libby Brundage, Anya Normandeau)
Team Podoll (Ann Podoll, Rachel Kawleski, Mackenzie Ritchie, Rachel Workin)
Team Pekowitz (Julia Pekowitz, Kalina Petrova, Lila Farwell, Alexa Pekowitz)
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.
