Harvard Curling: November Roundup
Harvard Curling is off to an exciting start this season, continuing a long tradition of excellence at Broomstones Curling Club. Established in 2000, the program has steadily grown into one of the most competitive college teams in the country qualifying for every USA College Championship since 2016 and most recently placing 4th in both 2017 and 2022. This past spring, we also recorded the best Draw Shot Challenge score in the nation at the 2024 Championships.
Their team practices on Friday afternoons at Broomstones, where we welcome both new and experienced curlers. Students across the university, undergraduate and graduate are invited to join us as we build community, hone our skills, and share the Spirit of Curling.
A Quick Look at the Sport
For those unfamiliar, curling is the strategic, high-energy sport you may have seen during the Winter Olympics, the one with sweeping, sliding stones, and teams huddled over the ice calling line. Originating in Scotland and popular throughout Canada and Scandinavia, curling is gaining enthusiasm across the United States as well.
Games take place on long sheets of ice, with teams alternating throws of granite stones toward circular scoring zones known as houses. Delivery happens from the hack, and teammates sweep in front of the moving stone to influence its speed and curl. The goal is simple: place your stones closer to the center—called the button than your opponent's. Though it may look gentle from afar, curling is equal parts technical, strategic, and physically demanding—often compared to "chess on ice."
One common misconception: curlers do not skate. We wear special curling shoes, one with a slippery Teflon sole for sliding, the other with rubber for control.
Opening Bonspiel of the Season: November 7–9
The USA College Curling season in the Northeast kicked off right here at Broomstones, which annually hosts the first bonspiel of the year. Harvard entered two teams, with a special focus on giving our newest curlers their first taste of competition.
Our newcomers Cate Chen, Jason Deng, Farhaan Siddiqui, Sophie-An Kingsbury Lee, Athena Siow, and Cameran Reckard—have been working hard since October and made their competitive debuts this weekend. They were joined by returning curler Rose Mroczka and first-time college curler Ethan Li, both of whom bring experience from high school curling. Leading the group was our team president and captain, Annabelle Rayson, a lifelong curler now in her third season representing Harvard.
Throughout the weekend, our teams faced strong opponents from across the Northeast, including MIT, Yale, Bowdoin, Penn State, the University of Pennsylvania, RPI, and RIT. Our program continues to set its sights on qualifying for the USA College Curling Nationals in March and finishing the year ranked among the top ten teams in the country. We also remain committed to growing the sport at Harvard, especially as Olympic excitement sparks renewed curiosity. We hope to welcome many new faces at upcoming Learn to Curl events.
Broomstones Bonspiel Recap
Against a field of 14 other teams, Harvard 1 earned one win in four games, and Harvard 2 secured two wins in their four-game run. Though the competition was tough, both teams showed impressive improvement with each draw. Mroczka and Rayson, skipping their respective teams, made several high-pressure hits and draws that kept games tight and energized the bench.
Between matches, players took part in the cherished curling tradition of broomstacking—sharing refreshments with the team you just played, provided by the winning side. It's a tradition that embodies one of curling's greatest strengths: camaraderie and sportsmanship both on and off the ice.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, club members, and Board of Broomstones Curling Club for hosting and supporting this event. Special thanks go to Kelsey Becker, Evan Mullaney, Jack Cordes, Dan Ostheimer, and Will Muldowney for their work in making the bonspiel possible.
This weekend offered valuable experience for all our new athletes, and we're excited to keep building on the progress we saw on the ice. With determination, teamwork, and steady growth, the season ahead looks incredibly promising.
Go Crimson!
