Minnesotans lead curling

Last update: February 24, 2009 - 7:09 AM

Three Minnesota teams, led by Mankato's Todd Birr, topped the men's standings Monday at the U.S. Olympic Curling Trials in Broomfield, Colo.

Birr's team remained undefeated through the first four games of the round robin at Broomfield Event Center. Teams skipped by Mike Farbelow of St. Paul and Tyler George of Duluth are just behind Birr with 3-1 records, and Duluth's John Shuster is among three teams that are 2-2.

The nine-game round robin continues through Thursday morning, with the semifinals Friday and the finals Saturday.

In the women's draw, Debbie McCormick of Madison, Wis., led her team to two victories Monday to improve to 5-0. McCormick's team includes two Minnesotans, Allison Pottinger of Eden Prairie and Natalie Nicholson of Bemidji. Patti Lank of New York is 4-1, and the teams of St. Paul's Cassie Potter and Duluth's Amy Wright are among three tied with 3-2 records.

Etc.

• Curt Kietzer has announced his resignation after 12 seasons as men's basketball coach at Macalester College that included an 0-25 record this season. Kietzer's record at Macalester was 112-189. His teams reached the conference playoffs three times in four years from 2002 to 2005.

• Gophers junior Aaron Studt was named the Big Ten Conference Field Event Athlete of the Week for his performance in the Snowshoe Open. Studt achieved a career best of 66 feet, 11¼ inches in the weight throw to finish second, first among collegians. Studt's toss ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten this season and within the top 15 in the country.

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