U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles Makes History Qualifying for the Semi-Finals edging Sweden

A Triple Stone blast removal helps Team USA reach the Semi-Finals

Cortina Bay, ITA- History was made on the eighth match of round robin play in the Curling Mixed Doubles. Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin for Team USA edged the brother and sister tandem of Isabella and Rasmus Wranaa of Sweden, by a final score of eight to seven, taking it all the way down to the eighth and final end of the match.

Overview

Both sides scored three points each in the first two ends to tie the score. The Wranaa’s was able to sneak their hammer around the USA’s stones and nestle it inside the button for a one-point lead at the third end. The Cory’s were able to earn points in two consecutive ends. They earned their second three-point end in the fourth when Dropkin swept the pebbles like a madman to knock out the lone Sweden Stone, leaving three inside the four-foot circle.

The USA took a three-point lead when Sweden failed to use their hammer to knock the USA’s stone out of the button, but missed it entirely. The next two ends belonged to Sweden as they scored two points in the sixth and tied it up with a single point in the seventh. In the eighth and final end of regulation. Korey Dropkin called a timeout to reassess the plan. Sent his second stone down the ice with authority and smashed all three of Sweden’s Stones to clear them out of the house, and gave them a possible victory.

He hit the guard so hard that it went down the middle toward the button, then split the other two stones going in different directions, and the guard exited the house toward the left of the sheet. Dropkin yelled demonstratively and celebrated the biggest move in these Olympic Curling Mixed Doubles Games. Sweden kept setting up guards, while the USA kept removing them, then on Sweden’s last stone, they misplayed the shot, conceded the match, and both Thiesse and Dropkin celebrated their victory.

For the first time in Mixed Doubles for the US Olympic Team, they are going to the Semi-Finals. Their opponents haven’t been named yet, as there is still one more match to go on Monday, February 9th, as the USA will take on hosts Italy in the final round robin match. Great Britain, which finally lost a match, has solidified the top position, with an 8-1 record, while the USA is in second with a 6-2 Record, Italy is in third with a 5-3 Record, and Sweden also qualified after a loss to Switzerland with a 5-4 record.

“We knew that this was our game to win. They’re a great team (Sweden), but we knew we needed to bring our A game and did that today, so really proud of us,” said Cory Thiesse. “We’re just thrilled to behere to be playing in front of this crowd and to be playing in front of our friends and family and people back home watching. We’rejust trying to enjoy the moment and takeit one rock at a time.”

Olympic Curling News:

• U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles Back in the Win Column. Poor Execution From Estonia Late
• U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles force an extra end, but still Falls to South Korea
• U.S. Curling Mixed Doubles Team Falls to Great Britain after a Tight Contested Match
• U.S. Curling mixed doubles easily defeats Czechia to go four straight in Round Robin play

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