NOCTILUCA Spring 2016 Vol.XXI Issue 11

SPORTS Appleton, Wisconsin Spring 2016 Vol. XXI

Issue II

Page 11

Curling starting to gain popularity across Wisconsin

By Sonia Tallroth It’s the Sochi 2014 Olym- pics. The tenth end is coming to a close, and the last stone slides across the ice. With help from the sweepers fran- tically brushing the ice, the stone hits the opposer’s stone out of the button. Great Brit- ain is all out of stones, and it’s victory for Canada! You probably haven’t heard of a sport like this being de- scribed. What player caught the pass? Who scored the goal? This is the little-known, yet much-enjoyed, sport of curling. There is no winning pass to triumph in a game. Getting the stones closest to the middle of the house (called the button), or the target at the end of the ice is the main goal. In a game of curling, a granite stone is thrown to- wards the house, and the other team members sweep the ice 1. When did you start play- ing baseball? I started playing at the age of six. Since then I have fallen in love with the game and en- joy every minute of it. 2. What do I love most about baseball? What I love most about base- ball is having all the guys come together as one team, all reaching for the same goal, to win. 3. What is my favorite base- ball memory? A: I’ve had many great mem- ories, however my favor- ite baseball memory comes from two years ago in 2014 when we won the FVA con- ference.

the more points the team gets, and the team with the highest number of points wins. The strategic planning and skill needed isn’t the only thing that attracts people to curling. The curling culture, or the etiquette, makes it one of the friendliest sports. Mr. Reed Rudie, an English teacher here at North, has been curling for eight years and said that the sportsmanship, strategy that is involved and the “overall atmosphere” are his favorite part about curling. During bonspiels, or tourna- ments, players are expected to call their own fouls, and giving the opponents compliments on good form is not uncommon. Moreover, curling is not a game based on the usual vir- tues of other sports as skill, experience, and strategy pre- vail over speed and stamina. With enough dedication, 1. When did you start Track? I started running track in 7th grade, in middle school. 2. What do you love most about track? I love the team and well, I love the running and the girls/team I run with, they’re all really nice and we’re all really close. And Coach Howard is pretty funny too. 3. What is your favorite track memory? Probably at the sectional meet last year in Ashwaube- non when our 4x800 team made it to state, it was very memorable.

anyone can learn how to curl, which really makes it a peo- ple’s sport. Appleton is one of the homes of the 30 clubs around Wisconsin. The club, around since 1939, placed first in the Badger Senior Women’s and Steven’s Point bonspiel and boasts two straight wins in the Clintonville Men’s bonspiel. The quickly growing club is home to many members, and it is a testament to the sport of curling quickly gaining popu- larity across America. RUDIEREED@aasd. k12.wi.us or member of the Appleton North Curling Team 4. What are your expecta- tions/hope to accomplish for the season? I hope to PR (Personal Re- cord) in my running events and to have our 4x800 make it to state again, and make it to state for the 400. 5. Finish this sentence: At the end of the season Appleton North Track and Field will be…?? ... The number one team in the state. To Get Involved: Contact Mr. Reed Rudie at

The Curling Team brings new experiences to the community. Appleton is home to one of the thirty clubs in Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Sonia Tallroth Left to Right: Mr. Rudie, Steven Marr, Carlie Morley, Mary Minnis, Stephanie Scheer, Michaela Talbot, Sarah Flem- ing, Tyler Grimmer, Mr. Armstrong

gic since you can’t just walk in and throw the stone. In fact, one of curling’s nicknames is “ice chess” because of all the planning involved. Eight stones are thrown per team, per end (or round). The more stones a team gets to the house,

to make the stone travel faster or move in a certain direction. However, the sweepers aren’t just brushing the ice willy- nilly; the skip of the team tells the other members how hard or where to sweep. This makes the game quite strate-

Meet the athletes of the month

Mary Rose Flood - Track

Taylor Borchers - Baseball

4. What are your expectations/ hope to accomplish this season? This season our expectations are similar to teams across the state, win the conference and win state. To go along with that, our team this year really wants to have good chemistry and always play to the best of our abilities. 5. Finish this sentence: At the end of the season Appleton North Track and Field will be…?? At the end of the year, Apple- ton North Baseball team will be state champs and arguably the best team to ever play at North.

Mary Rose Flood

View the complete interview at Northnoct.com

Taylor Borchers

Go see...

Boys Tennis 5/6 vs Xaiver 5/10 vs Neenah 5/12 vs Appleton East Girls Soccer 5/10 vs Kimberly 5/12 vs Hortonville 5/19 vs Neenah

Baseball 5/6 vs Oshkosh West 5/10 vs Fond du Lac 5/12 vs Kaukana Softball 5/6 vs Fond du Lac 5/12 vs Hortonville 5/17 vs Appleton East

Boys Golf 5/5 Invitational @ Fox Hills Resort 5/6 vs Kimberly 5/10 vs Hortonville Track and Field 5/5 @ Seymour 5/9 @ Fond du Lac 5/16 @ Appleton East

Admission is free to all Appleton North home games with an activity pass, unless it is a WIAA playoff game.

A look ahead to Lightning future games. All games are home unless noted.