PAGE 10 THED ALT AS POST SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com If you were playing a game of Jeopardy, and Alex Trebek said, “You wear these on the ice,” you can bet the answer, “What are sneakers?” would cost you some money. The answer, however, would apply if Trebek was referring to the Olympic sport of curl- ing. Several newbies to the sport laced up on March 19 for an open house at the Ice Rink at Coal Street Park in Wilkes- Barre. Allison Piatt, a history pro- fessor at Misericordia Univer- sity, is the president of the An- thracite Curling Club and ad- visor for the Misericordia Curling Club. She’s been curl- ing since 2006 with the re- gional club, formerly known as the Scranton Curling Club. Piatt equates the game to chess. On ice. With brooms and Teflon shoes. “It does take physical abil- ity, but it’s also a game of strategy,” the 29-year-old from Pikes Creek said. “You have to be a strategist.” The object of the game is to throw (or slide, rather) a 48- pound stone across a sheet of ice into the center of a bull’s- eye, called a house. Four-per- son teams work together, one of which throws the stone while others sweep using brooms to manipulate the di- rection and pace of the stone. Piatt estimates one could learn the basics of the game in an hour or two, although it may take a lifetime to master the sport. “I hope that, in 20 or 40 years from now, I'm still curl- ing,” she said. “I’ve seen 80- and 90-year-old people curl and smoke the competition.” Russ Keeler, of Kingston, was brand new to the sport last year. Now, he’s on a na- tionwide traveling team called “Fat Daddy and the Pussy- Teaching the ins and outs of the sport FOR MORE INFO Contact the Anthracite Curling Club with all your curling inquiries. You can visit its website at www.anthracitecurling.com, or e-mail Piatt at alison.piatt@rocket- mail.com. cats.” The former competitive eater said he’s constantly looking for something new to try, whether it’s an athletic en- deavor or that of the culinary persuasion. “'m a guy who's always looking for a story to tell,” he said. The Misericordia alum said curling is worth a shot — he and his teammates were mod- est competitors in last year’s league, but they learned as they played the game. “Give it a try — it’s a really enjoyable experience,” said Keeler. Alyssa Leonard, president of the Misericordia Curling Club, tried the sport after watching Piatt express enthu- siasm during a Western Civi- lization class. “I tried it and I absolutely loved it,” said Leonard, of Be- thlehem. The freshman was intrigued by the sport after watching it at the Vancouver Winter Olympics last year. It was the mystery of the game that lured her, but she also enjoyed having some off-campus fun every week. “The first time I was really nervous because I'm not the most coordinated,” Leonard said. “After I threw my first stone, I realized I can do it and just started throwing more and more and more.” The Misericordia club has four members - just enough for a team to participate in this year’s spring/summer league, which is held at 6 p.m. every Tuesday from March through June at the Coal Street Park ice rink. Sports CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS pol . ) Matthew Lyons, left, gives John Rosental, of Bear Creek, instructions in the sport of curling. J { XSERICORDIA (8{07:30 LACES Christina Lesko, of Wilkes-Barre, takes a first try at curling in the newly-renovated Coal Street Park Ice Rink. Curling instructor Alison Piatt, of Pikes Creek, demonstrates proper curling form. DALLAS SIXTH-GRADERS ARE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS The Dallas Sixth Grade Girls Basketball Travel Team captured first place in the Crestwood Tournament recently. Team members are, from left, first row, Rachel Maniskas, Talia Kosierow- ski, Sarah Lojewski, Maria Bednar. Second row, Coach Chad Lojewski, Paige Evans, Maddie Kelley, Emma Lehman, Courtney Devens, Breezy Coobaugh and Coach Len Kelley. HR program will teach volleyball Holy Redeemer High School’s boys and girls volley- ball teams will give junior high students a chance to learn and play the sport through its five-week volley- ball program beginning April 6. Sixth, seventh and eighth- grade students in the Holy Redeemer System’s elemen- tary schools are invited to participate in the intramural program where teams are coached by Holy Redeemer players. Holy Redeemer’s girls’ team has won the district cham- pionship the last four years and is on a 75-game winning streak that goes back to 2007. Players Mary Loughran and Allie Griswold are All-State players this year. The boys’ team is beginning its season after going undefeated last year. John Kablick is in his 26th year as coach of both teams. The junior high volleyball program is offered twice a year at Holy Redeemer and is now in its 10th year. Over 900 players have participated in the program. Players are taught fundamentals and Shown are some of the Holy Redeemer volleyball players who will conduct a five-week volleyball program. From left, first row, Allie Griswold, Dallas; Mary Loughran, Kingston; Julia Wignot, Wilkes- Barre. Second row, Peter Alexis, Hanover Twp.; Rob Wingert, Ha- nover Twp.; John McCarthy, Trucksville; Coach John Kablick; Mike Prociak, Wilkes-Barre. shirts. | For more information, con- tact Holy Redeemer High School at 829-2424. strategy while competing in intramural play. Cost for the program is $8 per player which covers the cost of team
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