Left: “A event” winners were from the Cook County Curling Club—Brian Smith, Rory Smith, Shawn Swearingen, and Don Sorlie. They won a hard-fought game against Team Arkansas, claiming the A event title for a second year. Above: “A event” runners up was Team Arkansas—Dominik Marki, Mark Curtis, Joe and Karen Futterer. Marki is a Swiss national who now lives in Arkansas where he curls with members of the Futterer family. He has curled and medaled in several international competitions.
The Cook County Curling Club was busy March 11-13, hosting the Charles J. Futterer Memorial Open Bonspiel. Eleven teams traveled to Grand Marais and five local teams participated in this family fun-filled event.
The Charles J. Futterer family was well represented, with many of the teams participating having immediate family members, as well as distant cousins playing. This brings home the fact that this sport is a family activity that can be played at any age.
Charles and Geri Futterer would have been very proud of the fact that three of their children, along with grandchildren were each in a final event on Sunday afternoon.
In the A event curling with Team Arkansas were Mark Curtis, Dominik Marki, grandson Joe and daughter Karen Futterer.
In the C event was Team Cook County Curling Club with son Charles Futterer Jr., Kelly Swearingen, Jake Carleen and Pam Faye.
In the D event, the team dubbed “Laine & the 4 Futts,” a St. Paul club included son Craig, grandchildren Anna, Logan, Devan Futterer and Laine Rasmussen.
The Arkansas Team’s third Dominik Marki threw last rock for that team. He is a Swiss national who now lives in Arkansas. He played in two World Junior Curling championships earning a gold medal as an alternate and then a couple of years later, skipped his team to a 5th place finish. He also earned a bronze medal at the World Men’s Curling championship playing second and beating Canada in the third place game.
Team Arkansas’ Mark Curtis is a Portage, Wisconsin native who now lives in Arkansas. For a couple of years in the 1970s, Curtis guided Wisconsin church youth canoe trips on the Magnetic River between Gunflint and Sag lakes. He also mentioned that when his wife was a young FBI agent, she was mentored by an agent with a Cook County connection—David Johnson of Grand Marais, the son of late Tumsey and Mildred Johnson. Curtis said David was an excellent mentor.
A great time was had by all at the 2016 Charles J. Futterer Memorial Bonspiel on March 11-13. Above: The D event winners were “Laine and the 4Futts”—Devon, Craig, Anna, and Logan Futterer on a St. Paul-based team. (Not pictured Laine Rasmussen)
The Brian Smith team with Brian Smith, Rory Smith, Shawn Swearingen and Don Sorlie Jr. from the Cook County Curling Club, played an excellent game against Team Arkansas.
Rory Smith threw last rock for his team. Both teams played really well. But, by the 8th end, the Smith team was up by 3 points going home without the hammer and was able to win the game. This is the second year that this team has won the A event. Congratulations! Watch for them to be back to defend their title next year!
Winning the B event was the Courtney Osbakken team from the Two Harbors Curling Club with the Ken Blackwood team from Terrace Bay, Ontario finishing as runners-up.
C event winners were the Casey Josephson team from the Two Harbors Curling Club with the Chuck Futterer team from Cook County Curling Club as runner-up.
D event winners were Laine and 4Futts from the St. Paul Curling Club and Craig Futterer with the Andrew Smith team from Cook County Curling Club were runners up.
The Cook County Curling Club ended its curling season on March 23 with the final league play down that evening. The ice will be used by the Community Center for the Easter event on Saturday, March 26, with club members taking the ice out after that event. The Club hopes the kids have a fun time skating on it.
The curling club is already looking forward to the 2016-2017 season. If you would like to be a part of curling next year, please contact the club at www.cookcountycurlingclub.com.
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