2022-23 WHEELCHAIR CURLING NATIONAL TEAM QUALIFICATON PROCEDURES
© WCF / Alina Pavlyuchik 2021
The 2023 National Wheelchair Curling Team Trials process will get underway with the U.S. Wheelchair Curling Challenge Round (formerly called the Pre-Trials) to be held Apr. 8-9, 2022, at the Sentry Curling Center home of the Stevens Point Curling Club in Plover, Wis.
The Challenge Round will welcome eligible athletes who have completed the application package, and serve as the first round of the qualification process to name the 2022-23 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team. From the Challenge Round, a minimum of four athletes will advance to the 2023 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team Selection Trials to be hosted by the Denver Curling Club on May 24-26, 2022.
All eight athletes on the 2021-22 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team will receive an invitation to the Trials and be joined by the athletes who advance through the Challenge Round, creating a Trials field of 12 total athletes. Should any member of the current National Team decline their invitation to the Trials, the spot(s) will be filled by athletes from the Challenge Round.
Athletes will be ranked on demonstrated skill, game knowledge, prior team participation and performance, and team dynamics. A gender specific, rank ordered list based on these criteria will be created and used to select the eight finalists for the 2023 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team.
The eight athletes named to the 2022-23 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team will then form a pool for the selection of the five athletes to represent the United States at the 2023 World Wheelchair Curling Championship. World team selection will be based upon individual performance and observations made by the coaching staff at training camps and competitions leading up to the 2023 World Wheelchair Curling Championship.
Application to the Challenge Round is open until Feb. 15, 2022, to all eligible athletes (who have not directly qualified for the 2023 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team Trials).
Interested athletes can contact USA Curling Wheelchair National Team Staff with any additional questions:
Pete Annis, U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team Director
Rusty Schieber, U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team Coach
Marc DePerno, U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team Leader
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People.
