Sturgis Curling Club Update - 1/25/10

Today was our final official day of curling. I am not yet closing this activity, however, because I may do more curling on Fridays if the opportunity arises. 

I really had a great day curling and think that today's meeting was a great way for the club to close out its season. By this point, all of us know how to curl fairly well, so we were able to break up into teams and begin a game immediately. My team consisted of Murylo, Miranda, Noah, and myself. In the first end we didn't do too well. I was the vice and Murylo was the skip. No one on our team seemed to be able to get good shots off. My shots were pretty much on target, but the weight of my stones was off and the rocks that I threw did little use for the team. I recognized that I could definitely improve in shooting with correct speed, but that I was doing well in the aspect of location and aim. As a vice, I listened to what Mary Colacchio advised me and I did just fine in directing Murylo's stones.

In the following ends, I decided that it was time for something new. Therefore, I undertook the challenge of being the skip. I'd never done this before, but I was confident that I knew my responsibilities. Being the vice, I'd gotten guidance from Mary Colacchio or the skip, and today I realized that it was time for me to step up. Even though being a skip was something new for me, I think that I did exceptionally well. After our horrible first end, our team really picked up some steam and we were able to prevent any scoring in the next two ends. I did really well in calling the shots, and even if they didn't always end up perfect I recognized that the thrower put in a great effort. I also realized that the job of skip wasn't a unique responsibility, and that it was necessary for me to work collaboratively with all the other members on my team. I had to call the shot for the person throwing the stone, line it up and make sure the aim and curl would be perfect. As the stone was running down the sheet, I had to make sure I could discern the speed and tell the sweepers whether or not to sweep. Our joint effort was very effective and the four of us worked well together under my leadership.

In the final end, all of my team's hard work came together and resulting in some scoring. We gained back the points that we had given up in earlier ends. Again, I was the skip, and I helped direct the first 6 shots together with my team. For the final two shots, I finally managed to get down my accuracy and my speed, and our team achieved points, making the game a tie. I was incredibly proud of the hard work of my team and of my improvements in curling. I think that I have developed into a decent curler and I am proud of my efforts and my success.