DWYER/EMT AND RICKER/SAMSA SECURE BERTHS TO THE 2025 PARALYMPIC TRIALS
David Samsa & Penny Ricker
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, September 29, 2025] — After a thrilling weekend of competition at the Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Pre-Trials in Fort Wayne, IN, Team Dwyer/Emt (Laura Dwyer, Steve Emt) and Team Ricker/Samsa (Penny Ricker, David Samsa have officially secured their spots at the 2025 Paralympic Trials for Mixed Doubles Curling.
The Pre-Trials featured eight teams competing at the Fort Wayne Curling Club for just two available berths in the Paralympic Team Trials for Wheelchair Mixed Doubles, which will take place this November in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, alongside the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling.
Following round-robin play, Dwyer/Emt earned their berth by defeating Ricker/Samsa in Playoff Game 1. Ricker/Samsa then bounced back with a win over Bates/Sadowski (Stacy Bates, Shawn Sadowski) in Playoff Game 2, clinching the second and final spot.
“These athletes have worked incredibly hard to earn the opportunity to compete for a chance to represent Team USA at the Paralympic Games,” said National Director of Wheelchair Curling Pete Annis. “This past weekend of competition showcased both the depth of talent and the passion of American competitors.”
Steve Emt & Laura Dwyer
The Paralympic Trials will determine which team will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Information about the Trials is available here and will be updated with Wheelchair Mixed Doubles now that the teams are confirmed.
Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Pre-Trials Teams
Dwyer/Emt (Laura Dwyer, Steve Emt)
Uranchimeg/Thums (Oyuna Uranchimeg, Matt Thums)
Wilson/Rose (Pam Wilson, Dan Rose
Ricker/Samsa (Penny Ricker, David Samsa)
Lino/Davis (Meghan Lino, Steve Davis)
Verderber/O’Neill (Kathleen Verderber, Sean O’Neill)
Meadows/Box (Terri Meadows, David Box )
Bates/Sadowski (Stacy Bates, Shawn Sadowski)
Tickets are now on sale for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Sioux Falls, SD, at the Sanford Premier Center from November 11-16, 2025.
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.
