Matt Hames and his team defended their title in the Championship Division of the Empire State Winter Games Curling Bonspiel this past weekend at the Utica Curling Club in Whitestown. They once again defeated the team skipped by Howard Feldman to secure the gold medal. Local competitors swept all winners and runners-up positions across the divisions.
The Empire State Winter Games Curling Bonspiel, hosted by the Utica Curling Club, featured 18 teams, with 11 hailing from the local club. This marked the second year curling has been part of the Empire State Games, and the event has been held at the Utica Curling Club both times, with plans to return there next year.
In the Championship Division, Matt Hames skipped his team—comprising Dean Kelly, Mike Kessler, and Jason Golubski—to victory over Howard Feldman's squad, which included Tom Clark, Donna Caleo, and Erlene Puleo. Ann Stuhlman's team, with Marena Taverna, Liz Kaido, and Tim Reger, took third place.
The Second Division saw Brian Moore's team, featuring Eric Krumme, Carol Jones, and Marge Moore, claim the win, followed by Natalie Shelton's group of Monica Costa, Jasminka Husic, and Sara Mohr as runners-up.
John Taverne led the Third Division winners, joined by Linda Krumme, Dee Phol, and Antoinette Rosinski, with Brandon Stone's team—Eva Stone, Cora Stone, and Tom Enkrosky—taking second.
In the Fourth Division, Tami Dunigan's team, including Kathy Kane, Lisa Light, and Davina Newman, emerged victorious, edging out Jim Contino's lineup of Sue Handson, Adam McClain, and Kerry La Violette.
All podium finishers were local competitors, highlighting the strength of the Utica curling community. Looking ahead, the Utica Curling Club will host the Grand National Curling Club College Curling Championship from February 6-8, drawing 20 teams from seven states, including Colgate University and Syracuse University. The top two teams will earn bids to the USA Curling College National Championships in March.