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Team USA Brings Home the Bronze!

	TEAM USA Front row: Bob Prenoveau (Chittenango, NY), Augusto Perez (E. Syracuse, NY), Jim Pierce (Syracuse, NY), Jim Joseph (New Hartford, NY), Jacqui Kapinowski (Point Pleasant, NJ)Back row: Head Coach Steve Brown (Madison, WI), Team Leader Marc DePerno (Deerfield, NY)

NEW HARTFORD – Five of the nation's top wheelchair curlers are now being recognized as world champions! The 2008 USA Wheelchair Curling Team, comprised of Jim Joseph (New Hartford, NY), Jacqueline Kapinowski (Point Pleasant, NJ), Augusto Perez (Syracuse, NY), Jim Pierce (Syracuse, NY), and Bob Prenoveau (Chittenango, NY), proudly wear bronze medals after competing in the World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Sursee, Switzerland. This is the first time the United States Wheelchair Curling Team has ever won a medal in the World Championships! Approximately 50 athletes with disabilities participated in the event representing various countries, including Canada, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United States.

After a series of round-robin games, Team USA was faced with a tiebreaker against Italy for a chance at the medal round. Taking the win with a score of 6-4, USA advanced to the playoffs. After losing to Norway, USA still had a chance to face Canada for the bronze medal. With a final score of 8-1, USA defeated Canada and secured the bronze. Norway took the gold, and Korea won the silver.

Jimmy Joseph of New Hartford says, "We finally got a medal! We are very satisfied with our performance, and there are many more medals to come. Next year we are going for gold!" Team USA has already qualified for the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships to be held in Vancouver, and this win also guarantees that they will go the Paralympic Games in 2010.

All members of Team USA are also participants of the Sitrin STARS (Success Through Adaptive Recreation & Sports) Program. Implemented in 2001, this unique adaptive sports program is the only one of its kind in Central New York. The wheelchair curling program began in 2002 in collaboration with the Utica Curling Club.

Sitrin STARS director and Team Leader Marc DePerno, who was recently also named the United States Curling Association's Director of Outreach and Development for Wheelchair Curling says, "I am so proud of the time and commitment that the team has put into the sport. They are so deserving of this medal."

To learn more Team USA’s accomplishments contact Brianne Puleo at (315) 797-3114, x414. More photos are also available.

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