“Good Curling” became an important new addition to my vocabulary while on the Curling in Chicago Project Week led by Upper School science teachers Steven Coberly and Melissa Dowling. A new sport was introduced to 15 other students and me, and after just five days of practice, we were throwing stones, sweeping rocks, and calling shots in the fourth annual Roman Bonspiel.
On Monday morning, we learned some general skills and rules, such as how to slide out of the hack, proper etiquette during a game, and the different positions on a team. Following our time at school in the morning, we loaded the bus for what would be the first of many trips to the Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook. After a quick lunch, we took the ice for the first time. Here many of the new curlers learned the hard way that, indeed, ice is slippery.
Tuesday through Thursday followed a similar schedule. We gathered at school every morning to review strategy and rules of curling. A mini curling sheet was set up on the floor of the Science Center Forum to review how to call shots and learn the unique vocabulary that is used while playing in a game.
After our mornings at school, we would quickly get on the bus and travel up to the ice house, where we would immediately eat lunch and then gather our sliders, grippers, and brooms to begin on-ice drills.
The ice drills focused on a multitude of skills. Balance was a top priority, along with how to better aim while throwing. As the week progressed, our abilities to slide out (without wiping out) improved dramatically. We were also able to throw more accurate stones with a handle (to help them curl down the ice) and call strategic shots. Each day, the drills culminated in mini games to prepare us for the main event of the week, the Roman Bonspiel.
On Friday, we got to show off all the curling skills we gained through the week in a Curling tournament. The group was split into four teams: The House Invaders, Broom Shakalaka, Rock Solid, and The Four-Foot Professionals.
After being piped onto the ice in a procession led by a live bagpiper, the four teams competed for the Roman Chalice. The winners of the semifinals moved on to compete in the championship of the Bonspiel. The House Invaders were victorious over the Broom Shakalaka team in the finals, taking home the Roman Chalice.
A member of the champion House Invaders team, freshman Arlo Heltzer, shared his experience with the project.
“When I saw that I had curling, I was a bit underwhelmed, because some of my friends got Spain or Puerto Rico,” he said. “But now I could not be happier with curling—it was an absolute blast! The students, teachers, and coaches turned a game of throwing stones on ice into an experience I don’t want to forget.”
