Last Saturday morning, on what would become one of the hottest and most uncomfortable weather days of the young summer, people kept cool at the Patriot Ice Center during a unique sporting experience.
“Welcome to the first draw of the first bonspiel hosted by the first curling club here in the First State,” bellowed Diamond State Curling Club vice president Brian Hufe as teams prepared to head onto the ice.
What is a bonspiel? Simply put, it’s a curling tournament between different clubs. At this bonspiel, aptly named the “302 Spiel,” there were 16 coed teams representing eight clubs from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.
“We were ecstatic with the turnout,” club president Dewey Donovan said. “We had room for 16 teams, which is all you can fit into a one-day tournament, practically speaking. When we opened registration back on May 1, we had 28 teams sign up within 45 minutes. So we were very pleased and very surprised that we got that much response and really appreciate the clubs around the area responding and coming out to support us.”
The four-person coed teams were guaranteed a minimum of three games in a bracket-tournament format.
A game consists of a maximum of six “ends.” In each end, a team “throws” their eight 42-pound rocks. Only one team can score points in an end, and it’s the team that gets its stone closest to the button, or bullseye as most of us would call it, that is painted on the ice. Teams get one point for being the closest and then additional points for each of their rocks that is closer to the button than the closest rock of the opponent. The winning team is the one with the most points at the end of six ends, or 80 minutes, whichever comes first.
“A team can score a maximum of eight points, but that rarely ever happens,” explained club board member Steve Lappert, who was the official measurer in the case of two rocks being too close to call with the naked eye.
Lappert explained that the lead position throws the rock and the second and third positions then do the sweeping, with the skip reading the ice and often jumping in to sweep as the rock nears the target. Players can change positions between ends, but typically each has their own specialty and usually remains there the entire game.
Like a lot of curlers, Lappert got involved in the sport after watching it on television during the Winter Olympics.
“It looked like a lot of fun,” he explained. “So I came out to try it with my son, and it’s a nice thing that we can do together because it’s really for all ages. Teenagers up to older folks can all have fun doing it.”
The Diamond State Curling Club had two teams in the event. “Dela-Where?” (Alex Zimmerman, Eric Remington, Steve Sabatino and Stefanie Beard) and “Tax Free Shoppers” (Kyle Fedorkowicz, Phil Wilcox, Rob Green and Julie Yeager) were made up of players mostly from New Castle County who participate year-round in the club’s leagues, friendlies and other activities.
“It was really fun,” said a smiling Beard. “It was a little nerve-racking to begin with because I haven’t curled in a month. But as soon as I got on the ice, it felt like normal.”
One thing about the sport that is not normal is that the players themselves officiate the games.
“I like the sportsmanship and the way everyone just supports each other no matter what,” Beard added. “Even if the other team knocks your rock out, it’s still good curling and it’s still a good shot, no matter what.”
The idea for the club to host a bonspiel came about a couple years ago, but it wasn’t until this past year that the club really felt it could become a reality.
“There are a lot of logistics that go into having a bonspiel ,so it took a couple years to plan,” Lappert said. “It gained some traction over the last year when we had a lot of our volunteers make commitments to help pull it off and it came about.”
After a full day of competition, “Los Piragüeros” from the Plainfield Curling Club in New Jersey was crowned champions of the bonspiel. “Dela-Where?” won the “B event” and finished third overall, while “Tax Free Shoppers” won the “D event” in the consolation bracket.
“This was a fantastic kickoff bonspiel for Diamond State Curling Club,” Donovan remarked when it was all over. “The feedback from the visiting clubs was overwhelmingly positive. Almost every team told us they can’t wait to come back next year.”
In addition to planning a second annual event, the club is hoping this year’s bonspiel will encourage others to come out and try the sport.
“We are looking at growing the club,” Lappert pointed out. “Hopefully this gets a little bit of publicity out there and people find out about it and want to come to ‘Intro to Curl’ and find out what it’s all about.”
Intro to Curl is a beginner’s session where people can come out and try the sport. The next sessions will be held at the Patriot Ice Center on Aug. 15 and 22 from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. More information about this and other opportunities can be found on the club’s website at www.diamondstatecurling.org.
“I would tell people they should participate in curling because it’s really fun and there are all different skill levels, and you don’t have to be super athletic to do it, and people of all age ranges do it,” said Beard, who began playing the sport last June. “Everyone is really welcoming and friendly. It’s just a really good time.”
In my opinion only …
Athing Mu, without question the top 800-meter run for the United States, did not qualify for the Olympics because she fell in the trial. The United States Olympic Committee must figure out a way for someone in her situation to still be on the team. If she had lost the race without an issue, then yes, she shouldn’t be on the team, although some would still argue she should and that would be the case in some other countries. But she tripped in the pack, and that’s what cost her finishing high enough to qualify. She appealed the decision and was denied. If that appeal isn’t going to be accepted, why bother even having a process. … The Sixers signing Paul George to a max contract is the only way they were going to get him. But that doesn’t mean I trust the process. …
Wrapping it up
Former UD quarterbacks Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco were back at Delaware Stadium last weekend for a football camp. I’d love to get their honest, and I repeat, honest, opinion on their alma mater’s move to the FBS.
Until next time … have a great sports week!
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