Team Flannel, L-R: Joe Larson, Devan Futterer, Logan Futterer, and Michael Cain. Photos courtesy of Sue Futterer
The ninth annual Charles J. Futterer Memorial Open Bonspiel is now history as 21 teams enjoyed the curling competition at the Cook County Curling Club in Grand Marais.
Curling in Cook County started in January 1963, and this bonspiel is named after the club’s first president. Fifteen visiting and six local teams vied for the prize money paid to the top two finishers in each of the four brackets. Matches started at 5 p.m. Friday, March 6 and concluded early Sunday afternoon, March 8 after 39 games were played on the local ice sheets.
Getting the excitement started Friday evening was Andrew Smith and his team of Cook County Middle School students, Jake Mixdorf, Noah Smith, and Kia Erickson. In contrast, Sunday afternoon’s A Event championship game pitted Team Williams against Team Jackson, both teams liberally sprinkled with gray hair and 60-70 year old excellent curlers. This contrast is further evidence that curling is a sport enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.
Placing second in the D-event was Team Spry: Bob Spry, Bruce Johnson, Don Grant, and Vera Schuman. Photos courtesy of Sue Futterer
The team taking the top prize money and having their name etched on the championship plaque was Team Williams of Thunder Bay. Curling for Team Williams was Gordon Williams, Paul Carr, Joe Marques and Phil Szuba. Team Jackson, also from Thunder Bay, earned second place: curling for the Jackson rink was Dan Jackson, Ernie Suriname, Ed Peterson and Lance Reid. Team Hedstrom was third and Team Arkansas was fourth.
In the B Event, for teams that only lost one match, Team Postimuk of Thunder Bay edged out Team Everall also of Thunder Bay. Team Flannel of Minneapolis was 3rd and Team Harding of Kekabecka Falls, Ontario, finished in fourth place.
The C Event winners were Team Josephson, who curls out of Two Harbors. They bested Team Whitehall, who hails from Two Harbors and Duluth. Mike Christiansen’s Cook County Team took third and Team Yanisewski of Thunder Bay placed fourth.
Team Chorkaway of Thunder Bay, who slid by Team Spry of Cook County, won the D Event. Curling for the Spry team is Bob Spry, Bruce Johnson, Vera Schuman and Don Grant. Two Harbor’s Team Green Lady grabbed third and Team Futterer of Cook County took fourth.
The local curling season will be wrapping up shortly but new, and returning curlers are welcome to join leagues or open curling next season. Curling is an Olympic sport enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
Cook County Bonspiel for next season will kick off with the Halloween Spiel held October 30th, followed by the 2-Person Champagne Spiel January 9-10, 2021, and the 10th Annual Charles J. Futterer Memorial Open Spiel March 12-14, 2021.
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