TEAM RUOHONEN ADDS FIRST WIN TO ROUND-ROBIN RECORD
Photo by Bob Weder
On Sunday evening, the men’s field of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team Trials took the ice for the fourth round robin game of the tournament.
The matchup between Team Brundidge and Team Dropkin was tied after eight ends of play until team Dropkin scored a deuce in the ninth end that could not be returned. In the final frame, Team Dropkin successfully forced Team Brundidge to a single point, resulting in a 6-5 victory.
Team Dropkin’s win improved their record to 3-1, as Team Brundidge fell to 0-4.
In the feature matchup, Team Shuster maintained their unblemished record, handing Team Persinger their second consecutive lost after opening the event 2-0.
Team Ruohonen, hungry for their first win of event, faced Team Dunnam on Sheet A.
"It was a must win,” said Rich Ruohonen. “Pretty much every game is a must win now.”
After a few missed opportunities early in the game, Team Ruohonen gained some momentum after stealing two points in the fifth end to go up by two.
“We finally played really well,” said Ruohonen. “We had a shot for four and an easy shot for three and only got one. It was a little struggle for me out there, but the guys played really well and picked me up.”
Team Dunnam evened the score in the ninth end, making a double takeout to score three, but Team Ruohonen played a perfect final end, using the hammer to draw for the win.
“It's a big win and feels really good to finally get one in the win column,” added Ruohonen.
A good feeling that the Team hopes to carry into two important matchups on Monday.
"We still play everybody again and have a couple of big ones tomorrow,” said Ruohonen. “If we can win two tomorrow, then we're 3-3 and who knows. We've done it before and gone on a roll winning five or six straight, which is kind of what we need now.”
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