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McMakin named 2011 Developmental Coach of the Year

(STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - Sandra McMakin (Potomac, Md.) has been named 2011 USA Curling Developmental Coach of the Year.

McMakin was nominated for her work with the Stephen Dropkin junior team, which finished second at the 2011 USA Curling Junior National Championships, as well as Brandon Corbett's men's team, which competed in the men's national qualifier. The award also honors McMakin's ongoing dedication to coaching and training curlers.

"It's been a wonderful experience and a privilege to work as a member of the coaching support for both Team Dropkin and Team Corbett," said McMakin, who curled for 25 years in Alberta, Canada, before moving from Calgary to Pittsburgh in 2000. She has been actively involved with USA Curling in many capacities since that time including coaching, arena curling, training, instruction, and youth curling.

A member of the Potomac Curling Club in Washington, D.C., McMakin has been involved in numerous camps and clinics across the United States. She is a USA Curling Level III instructor, Level III coach and Level I official. She has served as program director of the East Region Junior Camp since 2008; coordinator of GNCC Instruction and Coaching Committee since 2007; and is currently USA Curling's chairwoman of the Instruction and Training Committee. She previously chaired the association's Arena Curling Committee and also served as a curling instructor in Canada.

"I love the depth of the sport of curling, and I'm constantly learning with every event I attend, whether as a player, coach, course conductor or other type of event volunteer," McMakin said.

A Developmental Coach of the Year nominee is coach of a youth club, high school or junior-level coach, or a coach directly responsible for coaching athletes to the junior and/or elite level. The Development Coach of the Year award is determined by the USA Curling Coaching Committee. Winners of these awards are nominated for the United States Olympic Committee annual coaching awards as well.

"Curling is the ultimate team sport with all four players involved in every shot. When curling teams work hard and play the game with trust and respect, magic happens on the ice - and it's a great feeling to be a part of that," McMakin said. "I had so much fun this past season with all the curlers, coaches and instructors I worked with and I'm honored to be recognized for that by the USCA."

Past winners: http://www.usacurl.org/curlingrocks//index.php?option=com_content&task=v...

USA Curling is sponsored by AtomAmpd, Nike, Brooms Up Curling Supplies, The RAM Restaurant & Brewery, 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).

The first High Performance Camp wrapped up this weekend. Thanks to the Green Bay Curling Club for hosting the camp as well as the athletes, staff, instructors and other individuals who worked hard to make this camp a success. Thank you also to Lino Di Iorio for coming down from Canada with his BalancePlus Technical Systems. The next camp will take place Aug. 12-14.