Team USA

We thought you may want to get to know Team USA a bit.

Left to Right: Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick
Jessica Schultz and Ann Swisshelm

This first picture is of the team after they won the Olympic Trials to secure their spot in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. If you have been watching TV lately, especially NBC, you may recognize their Go USA mittens. This is a must have accessory for Team USA!

Left to Right: Erika, Debbie, Jessica and Ann
Ready for Russia!

The trials took place in Fargo, North Dakota, and my husband, Donnie, was able to attend, but I chose to stay home with my boys to make sure all of us didn't miss any school.  I was able to watch the game online (the boys fell asleep before the end, it was late) and talked to Debbie on a cellphone after she won.  It was so exciting, but it was tough for me to not be there in person.

Left to Right: Erika, Debbie, Jessica, Ann, and Allison

In curling, there are four people who play at any given time during the game.  Each has a position and throws two rocks per end (An end is like an inning in baseball, but only one team can score per end. There are 10 ends played in competitive curling).  Erika Brown is the team's skip, Debbie McCormick plays third, Jessica Schultz is the second, and Ann Swisshelm is the lead.  After they won the Olympic Trials, the team chose an alternate player, called the fifth.  Allison Pottinger is the fifth.

So who are these women?  Debbie McCormick is my husband's sister.  She was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and moved to Wisconsin with her family when she was 4 years old.  She now lives in Rio, Wisconsin (north of Madison) with her husband Pete and two dogs, Ellie and Ava. She owns her own mobile curling supply store and travels extensively around the US with her big red rig selling curling equipment. Debbie is from a curling family. Her dad and brother are both national champions and are involved in curling still today. Now, her nephew, my son, Carter is starting to curl too.

Debbie throwing a stone.

Erika Brown grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, but now resides in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with her husband, Ian.  They have two sons, Nathan and Cole.  My boys are just about the same ages as Nathan and Cole and love when their Canadian friends come to visit in Wisconsin! Erika works as a physician assistant in Canada. She is from a curling family, too. Her parents and brother are also national champions and her dad is the coach for the Paralympic Curling Team which will compete in Sochi beginning March 7.

Jessica and Diesel

Jessica Schultz is the youngest member of the team.  She was born and raised in Alaska, but now lives in Minnesota with her springer spaniel Diesel. She is a physical therapy assistant. Sochi is going to be her second Olympics and she has a very impressive curling resume.  All this before the age of 30.  A very talented young lady!

Ann Swisshelm was born in Ohio, but now lives in Chicago with her husband Sean and dog, Emma. She is the oldest one on the team, but don't be fooled.  This woman is an amazing athlete!  As the lead, she has to sweep all of the rocks after she shoots her own.  And have you seen the position you need to get into when you throw a stone?  Curling may look easy, but just the amount of strength, endurance, and flexibility needed to be as successful as Ann is incredible at any age. Ann, like all these ladies, is phenomenal.

Allison and Debbie during the
Vancouver Olympics

Allison Pottinger is also originally from Canada, but she currently lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  She is married to Doug and they have two young girls.  In Minnesota, she works as a research analyst. She played in the Vancouver Olympics with Debbie as the third. After Vancouver, she began skipping her own team.


Watch the fun video they did below.

Happy New Year!
-Courtney