 Teams from Wisconsin, New York, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota and other states descended upon Brainerd this past week for the Club Curling Nationals. Clayton Castle recaps the event and tells us what it means for the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club. The Club Curling Nationals have come and gone and now the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club will take the time to reflect on and grow from the hosting experience. Until then, the success will be celebrated. It's been a phenomenal week. Phenomenal curling, wonderful participation by our own Club members as volunteers, a fabulous ice crew. I don't think we could have asked for a better week. It was just really great. Former Olympian Debbie McCormick's team from Madison, Wisconsin won the women's championship and Lyle Sieg's team from Seattle, Washington won the men's title. There are a ton of fun. We've had a great week here in Brainerd and the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club did a fantastic job, so we're just thrilled to pieces. Well it's always fun to win, especially after you curled as many years I have, 45 years, to be able to come and share a passion for this sport with a bunch of other like-minded people is just wonderful. Both of the winners said their teams enjoyed their time in Brainerd and offered positive sentiments toward the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club for its hosting achievement. The host committee's been fantastic here, the food's been really good, the ice conditions were great, we have no complaints, it was sun was shining, we even lucked out with a 40 degree day, I think that was what Wednesday or Thursday, so we'll definitely be back. I love Brainerd. Brainerd's been absolutely wonderful, we really enjoyed it. We took time to rent a house together just out east of town on Clearwater Lake and we had a great time out there. We really enjoyed a lot of the restaurants and the hospitality here in town. For the club itself, the club nationals provided valuable experience for the Fairleigh Young Club. Mary Jo Hamilton used one word when asked what the experience meant for the club. A lot of growth, that's one thing. Not only growth by numbers, but growth as a club. We were able to come together as a team, 210 people to put on a major national event. Reporting in Brainerd, Clayton Castle, Lakeland News. This year's women's winner Debbie McCormick was a member of the US Olympic team in 2014. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.