Gustavus Adolphus College Assistant Catering Manager Kevin Birr has qualified for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in curling. Birr and teammates Todd Birr, Paul Pustovar, and Greg Wilson qualified for the trials by earning one of three spots available at the East Regional in Brookline, Mass., on Jan. 10.
The team of four, which is known as the “Todd Birr Rink,” due to Todd Birr’s position as the team’s “Skip” or captain, will compete against nine other teams at the U.S. Olympic Trials Feb. 21-28 in Denver, Colo. The winner of the trials will represent the United States at both the 2009 World Championships in Moncton, Canada and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
“We are pretty excited about the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics and represent the United States,” Kevin Birr said. “I’ve been curling since I can remember so it’s nice to see all of the hard work and practice pay off.”
Birr was introduced to the sport at an early age because his father was the ice maker at the Mankato Curling Club — a job now held by Kevin’s brother Todd.
“My brother and I grew up as best friends and spent a lot of time together,” Birr said. “We started playing against each other and we were both pretty competitive.”
Birr is the team’s “Lead,” which is the player who throws the team’s first two stones and then sweeps for the other team members as the final six stones are thrown.
“Sweeping in the sport makes the rock go farther and straighter and you can steer the rocks a little bit,” Birr said. “So it’s my job to help the next six rocks get to the exact spot they need to be in.”
Birr said that the team members try to practice every day, but that ice time can be hard to find, especially early in the season. Birr said that it’s not uncommon for him and his brother to drive to Rice Lake, Wisc., in order to find available ice to practice.
While the sport is still dominated internationally by Canada, Birr said that the sport is growing in popularity and visibility in the United States.
“Ten years ago when I would tell people I was a curler, they would say ‘a what?'” Birr said. “Now, today, they at least will say ‘oh, you’re one of those sweeper guys.'”
To follow the team’s progress, go online to www.curlingrocks.net.
Kevin Birr has been an employee at Gustavus since 1999.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510