SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Back in November, Team Casper pulled off the upset against Team Shuster in Sioux Falls to go to Italy.
It was a special time for Team Casper when they won the Olympic Curling Trials in Sioux Falls. Now, the team is playing for a lot more than gold in Milan.
It was also a special time for some 4th graders from Discovery Elementary who watched and cheered.
“Just watching Team Casper and the experience was awesome, and it’s not every day that a USA Team Trials is coming to your city,” said 4th grader Rylan Payne.
Some had never heard of the sport.
“I had no idea what curling was,” said 4th grader Sydney Lee.
But fell in love with it.
“The sticks that they had to scrub, like that was entertaining, and like seeing if they could get the other one to get out or in the middle,” said Sydney Lee.
The 4th graders became the loudest fans at the trials.
“It’s pretty quiet at a curling event, and they kept chanting ‘Casper, Casper, Casper!’ That was fun to see,” said Thomas Lee, Executive Director for Sioux Falls Sports Authority.
“The teams loved their enthusiasm, the people in the stands loved their enthusiasm, and it was so wonderful to see the kids getting so excited for a sport we love as well,” said Sioux Falls Curling President Morgan Weber.
Team Casper loved the excitement from the kids so much.
“They sent us pictures with signed autographs, and to say thank you, two of our classes in 4th grade wrote thank you letters to Team Casper and good luck letters,” said Payne.
“Good luck at curling, hope you win gold!” said Sydney Lee.
“Good luck, Ghostman and Aidan,” said Payne.
When Team Casper won the qualifiers to go to Italy, they remembered those 4th graders from Sioux Falls.
Those letters they wrote to the team are currently hanging in Milan, Italy, and will stay there while the team competes.
“U.S. Olympians are taking some of my stuff, like drawn letters, to Italy,” said Payne.
“It’s just another little piece of Sioux Falls that Team Casper can take with them to Italy for a little extra motivation,” said Thomas Lee.
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