EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Four Eau Claire curlers didn’t make the Winter Olympics this year, but they’re far from finished.
Team Hebert competed at the U.S. Olympic trials just three months ago as the youngest team in the field. Now they’re packing for Denmark to represent Team USA at the World Junior Curling Championships.
The team competed at the U.S. Olympic trials in Sioux Falls last November, facing Olympic legends like John Shuster. While Milan Cortina wasn’t in the cards this time, the experience proved invaluable.
“It’s a different atmosphere than any tournament we’ve ever done. The crowds were big, the ice was amazing, and we had a bunch of fans there to support us,” said Jackson Bestland, Team Hebert’s vice skip.
Team Hebert has been together for seven years, longer than many teams in the sport.
“We were the youngest team there, but we’d been together the longest actually. Seven years together as a team is something that doesn’t always happen in our sport. It was a really cool moment. It’s kind of a pinnacle for us,” said Benji Paral, the team’s second.
Skip Caden Hebert said the team played well against top-caliber competition but couldn’t quite pull-out victories.
“Being there with that caliber of teams, we played some really good games to be quite frank and just didn’t quite pull them out,” Hebert said.
The team is using the Olympic trials as motivation for what’s next. They faced Team Casper, the USA team competing in Milan Cortina, during the trials.
“For us, seeing that commitment that they had and just understanding that in two years, that’s the commitment we’re going to have to take on if we really want to make a run at going to the Olympics,” Hebert said.
Coach Mike Peplinski believes the team has medal potential at the World Championships.
“They’re great kids, they’re great people, and to watch them compete on an international stage is a pleasure,” Peplinski said. “I really think that they have a good chance of coming back with a medal at the World Championships. And the idea of the Olympics in the future is certainly something that will drive us to continue to push for more.”
The team flies out Feb. 21 for the Denmark competition and competes starting Feb. 24.
Copyright 2026 WEAU. All rights reserved.