81 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Upset! Team Casper Wins U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials
There is a new champion in USA Curling. In a seismic shift, the upstart Team Casper, led by 24-year-old skip Daniel Casper, dethroned the legendary John Shuster to win the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday night.
The victory was a culmination of years of hard work for Casper. The young team, consisting of Casper, Luc Violette, Aidan Oldenburg, and Ben Richardson, is now one step closer to their ultimate dream: Olympic glory.
A dynasty that spanned two decades came to an emotional end for Shuster’s incredible 20-year streak of representing the United States at the Winter Olympics, a run stretching back to 2006. Team Shuster won the Gold Medal at the 2018 Olympics.
Team Casper Wins a Back-and-Forth Battle for the Ages
On Sunday night, the teams traded blows like heavyweight fighters. After Casper stole a point in the first end, Shuster answered with a two-point takeout to take a 2-1 lead. The score was deadlocked at 3-3 heading into the sixth end, a pivotal moment where Casper executed a precise hammer throw to score two points. Shuster managed a single point in the seventh, but Casper responded with another deuce in the eighth, building a commanding 7-4 lead.
The pressure mounted on Shuster in the ninth end. Needing a big score to stay alive, he faced a difficult shot for a potential four points. As the stone slid down the ice, the crowd held its breath, but a decisive miss forced him to settle for just one point. Trailing 7-5 and with Casper holding the hammer in the final end, the writing was on the wall. Casper’s team played a clean tenth end, forcing Shuster out of scoring position and sealing a historic victory.
Nothing But Respect for Team Shuster after the Big Win
For Team Casper, the journey is far from over. Their victory in Sioux Falls punched their ticket to the Olympic Qualification Event (OQE) in Kelowna, British Columbia. There, they will face a tough field of international competitors, all vying for one of the final two spots available for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The pressure will be immense, but after dethroning a legend, this young team has proven they are ready for the challenge. For one or two nights, Casper just wants to enjoy the accomplishment.
Casper told Sioux Falls Live:
“It’s amazing, pretty crazy. It’s kind of what you dream of is winning the Olympic trials for years and years, and all of the work we’ve been putting in for however long leads to a week like this. At the same time, there’s still a lot of work to get to where we want to be at the actual Olympics. It’s also hard at the same time. Team Shuster, they’re some of my best friends. Someone has to win, and someone has to lose. I just feel for them. That part makes it really hard. I think it was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I’m obviously super excited.”
Said Shuster: “The shotmaking at the top teams in our country is unlike it’s ever been before. That’s a testament to the hard work we’re putting in and doing as an organization as a whole. … That Olympic qualifying event is no cakewalk, but if these guys go and play like this, I 100% expect those guys to be in the Olympics.”
Results and Schedule
- Final Match Result: Team Casper defeated Team Shuster 7-5.
- Best-of-Three Series: Team Casper won the series 2-1 (7-6, 6-7, 7-5).
- Next Event: Olympic Qualification Event.
- Location: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
- Dates: December 5-18.
- What’s at Stake: One of two remaining spots for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
