College Curling USA is the governing body of collegiate Curling in the USA. The organization acts as the NCAA does in other college sports — setting game play, eligibility, and organizational rules. College Curling USA is affiliated with United States Curling Association (USCA), the organization responsible for organizing Olympic teams.
The idea of college curling in the USA began in the late 1980s when the Illinois State Curling Foundation (ISCF) began to look into college curling, filling a gap between junior and adult curling levels. The ISCF, along with curling clubs, began promoting the idea of curling to schools. National Tournament began in the early 1990s with only a few schools in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Since then, has boomed to more than 40 schools- mostly in the Northern tier of the US and Northeast US. New Programs are starting all over the USA as new clubs are being established.
The Mission of the USA Curling College Championship is to promote the growth of college curling through the establishment of a national championship that encourages and rewards curlers attending a college or university who compete against their peers at other academic institutions throughout the school year
The Goal of the USA Curling College Championship is the promotion and development of on campus curling clubs and curling activities. While many college/university campuses have curlers who participate in curling activities at nearby community curling clubs, few have formally organized into campus clubs. There are many advantages to being a recognized on campus club including added student body exposure to curling activities and access to student organization funds that may help defray the costs of curling activities.
In the 2012-13 season, more than 200 curlers from 36 colleges or universities participated in College Curling USA sanctioned events.
For the 2014 Curling College Championship held in Blaine, MN, Taco Bell became an official corporate sponsor.
College teams compete in regional categories:
Until 2013 the regions were:
Grand National (East Coast)Great LakesMinnesotaNorth DakotaWisconsinFor the 2013 and 2014 championships, the regions were:
Region 1: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and MaineRegion 2: Lower Michigan, Ohio, and IndianaRegion 3: Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, and IllinoisRegion 4: Minnesota and North DakotaRegion 5: Remainder of the USSince 2014, the regions have been:
Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and VermontRegion 2: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and PennsylvaniaRegion 3: Indiana, Illinois, Lower Michigan, Ohio, and Southern WisconsinRegion 4: Upper Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Northern WisconsinRegion 5: Remainder of the USInvitations to the National Championship are awarded based on accumulated 'merit points'. Points are primarily earned by hosting and/or competing in a collegiate bonspiel. Points can also be collected through non-competition intercollegiate play or, for region 5 teams only, through other league play.
At least one school from each region receives an invitation to the national tournament.
The national tournament is typically held in March.
A team must be part of a recognized campus curling organization to be eligible to participate.
Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeBemidji State UniversityBinghamton UniversityBismarck State CollegeBoston UniversityBowdoin CollegeButler UniversityBowling Green State UniversityBrown UniversityCalifornia State University–Long BeachCarroll UniversityCarthage CollegeColgate UniversityCollege of St. ScholasticaColorado School of MinesEastern Michigan UniversityEdgewood CollegeFinlandia UniversityGustavus Adolphus CollegeHamilton CollegeHampshire CollegeHarvard UniversityHaverford CollegeHibbing Community CollegeIllinois Valley Community CollegeItasca Community CollegeLake Forest CollegeLawrence Technological UniversityLawrence UniversityMadison Area Technical CollegeMinnesota State University, MankatoMarquette UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMesabi Range CollegeMichigan State UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityMinot State UniversityMoorhead State UniversityNorth Dakota State UniversityNorthwestern UniversityOakland UniversityOhio State UniversityOhio UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRochester Institute of TechnologyRutgers UniversitySt. Olaf CollegeSUNY Polytechnic InstituteUnity CollegeUniversity of Alaska-FairbanksUniversity of California–BerkeleyUniversity of DenverUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUniversity of Maine–OronoUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Minnesota DuluthUniversity of Minnesota MorrisUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of TennesseeUniversity of ToledoUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Wisconsin–Barron CountyUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin–Green BayUniversity of Wisconsin–La CrosseUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Marshfield/Wood CountyUniversity of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeUniversity of Wisconsin–OshkoshUniversity of Wisconsin–Rock CountyUniversity of Wisconsin–SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens PointVillanova UniversityWashington University in St. LouisWeber State UniversityWellesley CollegeWilliams CollegeWilliston State CollegeWinona State UniversityUtah State UniversityYale UniversityLocation: Rochester, NY - Rochester Curling ClubTeams: 16Format: Four pool round robinChampion: University of Wisconsin - Stevens PointRunner-up: University of PennsylvaniaThird: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyFourth: Rochester Institute of TechnologyFifth: Boston UniversityThe 2014 College Championship was the first to be officially recognized by the USCA.
Location: Blaine, MN - Four Seasons Curling ClubTeams: 16Format: Four pool round robinChampion: University of Wisconsin - Green BayRunner-up: VillanovaThird: Carroll UniversityFourth: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyLocation: Duluth, MN - Duluth Curling ClubTeams: 16Format: Four pool round robinChampion: University of MinnesotaRunner-up: College of Saint Benedict/ Saint John's University (MN)Third: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyFourth: Boston UniversityLocation: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling ClubTeams: 32Divisions: 4Format: Round robinThe first place teams in each division
Division 1 - *Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDivision 2 - VillanovaDivision 3 - Northwestern UniversityDivision 4 - Bowdoin CollegeLocation: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling ClubTeams: 32Divisions: 4Format: Round robinThe first place teams in each division
Division 1 - University of Wisconsin OshkoshDivision 2 - Northwestern UniversityDivision 3 - Northwestern UniversityDivision 4 - Carroll CollegeLocation: Chicago, IL - Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling ClubTeams: 32Divisions: 4Format: Round robinThe first place teams in each division
Division 1 - University of MinnesotaDivision 2 - Hamilton CollegeDivision 3 - University of TennesseeDivision 4 - Northwestern UniversityThe 2008 College Curling National Bonspiel was held in Chicago, IL in March at the Northshore Curling Club and Chicago Curling Club. 34 teams participated this year separated into 4 divisions separated by combined years of experience.
The first place teams in each division
Division 1 - University of Wisconsin Eau ClaireDivision 2 - Northwestern UniversityDivision 3 - Hamilton CollegeDivision 4 - Hamilton CollegeUnited States Curling Association(USCA)Illinois State Curling FoundationChicago Community Trust