TEAM SAMPSON WINS 2022 U.S. JUNIOR MEN’S CURLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Team Sampson, (l-r) Marius Kleinas, Coleman Thurston, Kevin Tuma, Ethan Sampson, won the 2022 U.S. Junior Men’s Curling National Championship on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Photo by Tiffany Scheel
On April 23-30th, 2022, Sentry Curling Center, home of the Stevens Point Curling Club in Plover, Wisconsin, hosted the nation’s top junior (U21) curling teams for the 2022 U.S. Junior Curling National Championships.
On the men’s side, the Championships welcomed 12 teams to compete for the title and berth to represent the United States at the World Junior Curling Championships 2023.
The 12 competing junior men’s teams were divided into two pools of six teams to complete round robins before the page playoff system would crown a champion.
In the page playoff games, Team Kauffman defeated Team Wendling in the 1 vs. 2 matchup to qualify for the final, and Team Sampson defeated Team Hebert in the 3 v. 4 game to advance to the semi-final.
In the semi-final game, Team Sampson took an early lead over Team Wendling, scoring single points in the first three ends.
In the fourth end, Team Wendling found their way on the scoreboard with a single point, but blanked fifth end gave Team Sampson a 3-1 advantage at the close of the first half.
Team Wendling (Wesley Wendling, John Wilkerson, Jackson Armstrong, and Christopher Kirsch) receiving bronze medals at the 2022 U.S. Junior Curling National Championships. Photo by Tiffany Scheel.
Team Wendling was first on the scoreboard in the second half with a steal of one, but Team Sampson regained the two-point lead in the seventh end by putting another point on the board.
Team Wendling climbed back from the two-point deficit, evening the score after nine ends of play by scoring one in the eighth and stealing another in ninth, but hammer in the tenth end gave Team Sampson the advantage.
A score of one in the final end of play secured the victory for Team Sampson, advancing them to the Championship final and earning Team Wending (Wesley Wendling, John Wilkerson, Jackson Armstrong, and Christopher Kirsch) the bronze medal.
In the gold medal game, Team Sampson faced Team Kauffman.
Team Sampson was first on the board with a single in the opening end.
An exchange of deuces from both teams, followed by Team Kauffman being forced to one in the fourth and a blanked fifth end tied the game at the fifth end break.
In the second half of the Championship final, both teams matched play, exchanging deuces followed by three-point scores to tie the game at 8-8 going into the final end.
Consistent with the semifinal scenario, it was Team Sampson with last stone advantage in the final end.
Team Kauffman (Connor Kauffman, Sidney Harris, Jacob Zeman, and Ethan Hebert) receiving silver medals at the 2022 U.S. Junior Curling National Championships. Photo by Tiffany Scheel.
With a score of one point in the 10th end, Team Sampson defeated Team Kauffman 9-8.
Team Kauffman (Connor Kauffman, Sidney Harris, Jacob Zeman, and Ethan Hebert) earned a 6-2 event record and the 2022 U.S. Junior Men’s Curling National Championship silver medal.
Team Sampson’s victory in the Championship final earned the Team an 8-1 overall record and 2022 U.S. Junior Men’s Curling National Championship title.
In addition to the title, Team Sampson (Coleman Thurston, Kevin Tuma, Marius Kleinas, and Ethan Sampson) will represent the United States at the World Junior Curling Championships 2023.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
