Field narrowed to eight for U.S. wheelchair team selection

Oct. 24, 2011

Field narrowed to eight athletes for Team USA selection

(STEVENS POINT, Wis.) – The final eight athletes eligible to be part of Team USA for the 2012 World Wheelchair Championship were selected over the weekend at the Madison Curling Club in McFarland, Wis., after a three-day individual tryout competition featuring 14 athletes from across the United States.

Athletes selected for the final eight include 2010 Paralympians Patrick McDonald (Madison, Wis.) and James Joseph (New Hartford, N.Y.) as well as Penny Greely (Green Bay, Wis.), David Palmer (Mashpee, Mass.), Bob Prenoveau (Chittenango, N.Y.), Meghan Lino (East Falmouth, Mass.), Tim Kelly (Rockford, Ill.) and Gerald Wynne Jr. (Plover, Wis.). Prior to the competition, Wynne Jr. received a donated wheelchair from Ki Mobility of Stevens Point, Wis., to assist in his quest to make Team USA, according to Jackie Lohse of Ki Mobility.

The selection was based on individual skills testing, game participation and strategy assessment as well as interviews to determine team/player compatibility.  The eight athletes will now participate in the several highly competitive wheelchair curling events in November to help determine Team USA. The five-person team will be announced prior to Dec. 31 with that team being nominated to represent the U.S. at the 2012 World Wheelchair Curling Championship Feb. 18-25 in Chuncheon City, South Korea.

USA Curling is sponsored by AtomAmpd, Brooms Up Curling Supplies, Nike and RAM Brewery & Restaurant, and is partnered with CurlingZone.com.

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For more information: Terry Kolesar, USA Curling, terry.kolesar@usacurl.org, 715-344-1199, Ext. 202, or 608-338-9900 (cell).