Boys ice East and Everest, both teams sit at 2-2
MEDFORD CURLING
The season for Medford’s high school curling teams will be short, but it’s also turning into a successful one.
Both teams improved to 2-2 Tuesday by making key decisions and shots in the late stages during wins over Wausau East at the Medford Curling Club.
The girls team of Lyza Brandner, Karlee Westrich, Jill Mahner and Anya Apfelbeck won a back-and-forth contest with the Lumberjacks 8-7, breaking a 7-7 tie in an extra end. The Raiders took a 3-2 lead in the second end, fell behind 4-3 in the third, took the lead back in the fourth at 5-4 and the match continued to see-saw until the end.
The boys team of Dalton Casar, Brett Lundy, Alex Wilson and Nathan Willman responded after East scored four rocks in the fifth end by scoring one in the sixth and adding on in the last two ends to secure an 8-4 win. With single tallies in the first, second and fourth ends and two points in the second, Medford jumped out to a 5-0 lead before East quickly tightened things in the fifth.
The win was the second straight for the boys, who got some revenge against D.C. Everest on Thursday. The Raiders outscored the Evergreens 8-3 after losing to them 8-4 in the Jan. 15 season opener.
The boys, three of whom are back from last year’s team, have already surpassed last year’s win total with this week’s wins.
The girls weren’t quite as fortunate Thursday as they lost a close one to Everest 7-5. Both of their losses have come to the Evergreens.
Medford is scheduled to host Mosinee today, Thursday, in a 3 p.m. meet if the weather allows for the Indians to travel. The Raiders’ lone road meet of the regular season follows on Monday at Stevens Point.
The post-season schedule was clarified a bit during the past week. Tournament play for the Raiders will now start in Medford Feb. 11 and 12 with three-team state-qualifying events. Medford and Stevens Point will both hold three-team qualifying competition for the state’s North Division with the top boys and top girls team from each site advancing to the state meet in Stevens Point Feb. 19-20.
Which North Division teams will play at each site is still to be determined. Game times in Medford each day will be 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
