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BSUcurling
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Name: Ball State Curling Team
Country: United States
State: Indiana
Metro: Muncie
Interests: Costumes, theme music, corporate sponsorships, media coverage, breaking news interviews, and invincibility.
Expertise: Curling, drawing, freezing, pealing, shooting, sweeping, sliding, and national competition.
Message: message me
Member Since:
2/25/2006
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| Welcome back!
After a long off season, the time to take up the broom has come again. After an encouraging trip to the 2005-2006 National College Curling Championships, the Ball State University Curling Team is looking to expand their season and raise their level of competition in the 2006-2007 Season.
A Quick Update of What Has Happened Over the Summer:
- Skip Adam Bouse (Senior) has been in contact with several other schools in Indiana in efforts to bring curling to Indiana. After several meetings and much hard work, three schools have come together and succeeded in bring curling ice to Indianapolis: Indiana University, Butler University, and Ball State.
- The ice is located at the Indiana/World Skating Academy in Pan-Am Plaza in Indianapolis
- Not only will the college teams be able to practice here, but the Circle City Curling Club will form to provide the public at large with the opportunity to take up and competitively participate in curling leagues.
The 2006-2007 Season: a Preview
The Ball State Curling Team will be practicing on Wednesday or Thursday nights (time to be determined). There are fees for the ice time as well as dues to the National Curling Association.
The following dates are tentative and subject to change:
First Team Practice - October 11/12 (TBD)
Open Clinic/Tutorial - October 21 (3:45 - 7:45pm)
The Regional Tournament will take place on December 2-3 at Bowling Green St. Univ.
The National Tournament will take place on March 16-18 in Chicago, IL.
Additional Invitationals and Opens may be added as the season begins, including possible scrimmage matches in lieu of practice.
If you would like more information and/or are interested in joining the team, please contact us at BSUcurling@gmail.com.
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| As the cover story in the Ball State Daily News will tell you, the BSU curling team
successfully competed in their first nationals this past weekend. All of the hype and
hyperbole were put to reality as Alex Beeman, Tyler Crandall, Steve Garst and
Adam Bouse hit the ice for three matches this past weekend in Chicago.
While the team ended up with a 1-2 record overall, placing no worse than 6th place,
their confidence and skill both increased with the pressure of actual competition.
In the first draw of the tournament, Ball State faced conference rival Miami (OH). An
experienced team that practices weekly, Ball State found themselves sticking around
through the first seven ends. Entering the eighth and final end, the score was tied at six
all. As the shot went down and Ball State with the hammer (final shot), the center of the
house (target) was still relatively open. With a greatly skilled shot, Miami took was in
scoring position with Adam Bouse set to send down the last rock. Too heavy, the stone
sailed right and deep, leaving Miami the victors at 7-6.
"It was a tough loss...(because) it was in our hands, but we stuck in their with an
experienced team. I don't have any regrets," Bouse said later.
On Saturday, BSU faced a team that would be their toughest competition. Northwestern
had form, skill, and experiential advantages. With BSU struggling to read the ice and
stick to a consistent strategy, Northwestern sailed on to a 13-4 victory.
After lunch and relaxation, BSU returned to face Big Ten foe Illinois. The experience of
two tough losses must have spurred on the team. Lead Alex Beeman began placing stones
were they were nearly perfect and Second Tyler Crandall peeled away the competitors
guards. Vice Steve Garst's form improved and his accuracy increased BSU's ability to
score multiple points in multiple ends. Ultimately, BSU eased to a 10-4 victory.
At 1-2, there was a chance that BSU would end up in medal contention. The final match of the day pitted Northwestern against Miami (OH). Northwestern had dominated Illinois as well, were Miami had struggled and lost to the Illini. If Northwestern were to win against Miami, there would have been a 3-way tie between Miami, BSU, and Illinois. The tie-breaker is called a "cold draw." Each teams skip is given one, unswept shot at the button. Closest to the center wins.
Unfortunately, Northwestern struggled to make stones stick and were down 9-3 going into the final end. Knowing three stones were already out of play for Northwestern, Miami allowed them to score 5, but still falling short at 9-8.
Ball State finished no worse than 5 place in Division 5. Overall, that places Ball State in the Top 25. Not too shabby for only two team practices.
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| The BSU Curling team hit the papers today as the Muncie Star Press ran an article on the upstart, miracle-hoping group. Click here to read the coverage.
With less than thirty-five hours to go, the team is gearing up and it is not too late to join up and travel with the team. History beckons.
"Mira-curl!"
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| Today, the National College Curling Tournament offices released the divisional draw for the upcoming tournament next weekend. While specific match-ups were not specified, the Ball State team will hit the ice at 7:15pm on Friday, March 17th at the North Shore Curling Club in Chicago. With an expanded field this year, 40 teams are competing with Ball State being placed in Division 5. Listed below are the D-5 teams:
- University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- Northwestern University (B)
- Miami of Ohio (B)
- Ball State University
- Miami (OH) University (A)
- Medical College of Wisconsin (A)
- Iowa State University
- Purdue University
Guaranteed three draws, Ball State will take part in a round-robin style format with three other teams in D-5. The top two teams will then face-off with the other two top teams to determine the gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
Skip Adam Bouse commented earlier today on their D-5 opponents:
"I like what I see. Having another MAC school (Miami of Ohio)as well as one of our prime in-state rivals (Purdue) will help motivate us to perform at a higher level than I think we've seen in practice...These big conference schools with their high-profile players and sell-out endorsements just make us a better story; it will solidify our place next to Hoosiers, Rudy, the Mighty Ducks, and Miracle when we take home the gold. You will all see a mira-curl!"
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| The Ball State Curling team gathered on Friday for their final practice before heading to Nationals next week. The training facilities were unexpectedly shutdown causing the team to shorten their practice, but "we still felt pretty good. It was a good practice," team member Alex Beeman stated.
The team has been receiving increased press coverage and stories are being run in the Daily News and Star Press this week, preceding their tournament run.
In tournament news, the field of 32 has been expanded to 40 to allow more teams to get into the action are perhaps contend for a a medal. Ball State is guarantee three draws (matches); one will be on Friday and two on Saturday. If the team qualifies, the medal round will take place on Sunday, the 19th.
Arrangements are being made for fan support, both in travel and accommodations. Anyone interested in traveling or meeting up with the team and their posse should contact Skip Adam Bouse at BSUcurling@gmail.com for details and arrangements.
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