John Shuster's team defeated Andrew Stopera's squad 7-6 in an extra end to claim the men's title at the USA Curling national championships in Charlotte, N.C. Delaney Strouse's team secured the women's crown with a 9-6 victory over Elizabeth Cousins. Both teams earned spots at the upcoming world championships.
The USA Curling national championships concluded on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., with Team Shuster emerging victorious in the men's final. Shuster, the skip and a 2018 Olympic gold medallist ranked No. 9 in the world, led his team of third Chris Plys, second Colin Hufman, and lead Matt Hamilton to a 7-6 win over Team Andrew Stopera in an extra end. The team posted a perfect 7-0 round-robin record but lost 7-6 to Stopera in the Page 1-2 playoff before rebounding with a 10-5 semifinal victory over Team Kevin Tuma.
Stopera had taken over as skip in December when Korey Dropkin shifted focus to mixed doubles ahead of the Olympic Winter Games. In the final, Shuster's team trailed by two points with four ends remaining but managed the scoreboard effectively, alternating two-point hammer ends with single-point forces. The decisive extra-end hammer ended with a pick-out, guided by Plys's line call and Hufman's sweeping. Shuster later congratulated Plys and Hufman, who plan to step back from competitive play, saying they were "going out on top." This marks Shuster's 11th national title and qualifies the team for the World Men's Curling Championship from March 27 to April 4 in Ogden, Utah. Shuster has expressed a bucket-list goal of winning a world championship on home soil.
In the women's final, Team Strouse defeated Team Cousins 9-6 for their first national title. Strouse, resuming skipping duties before the event, teamed with third Anne O'Hara, second Sydney Mullaney, and lead Madison Bear. They finished round-robin play at 4-3, losing 6-5 to Cousins in the Page 1-2 playoff but beating Team Kim Rhyme 8-4 in the semifinal. Strouse's strategy of throwing hits proved effective amid arena humidity, stealing two points in the second end and scoring multiple points in hammer ends. The team advances to the World Women's Curling Championship from March 14 to 22 in Calgary.
The event faced challenges from overnight rain leaking through the Bojangles Coliseum roof, causing delays and one game relocation to the Charlotte Curling Association. Ice conditions were managed despite frost and humidity issues. Plys commented, "Stuff happens out of everyone’s control. The ice has been great until this rain, and they’ve done a great job giving us a good surface given all these challenges." Finals were played simultaneously due to the delays. Notable absentees included Team Daniel Casper and Olympic competitors Team Tabitha Peterson.
