American teams moving up in the world rankings
Four American teams made positive gains inside the Top 20 of the world rankings following Week 8 action on tour.
Team Delaney Strouse of Traverse City, Mich., was the biggest mover of the bunch ascending three spots in the women’s division. Strouse (No. 13) was a semifinalist at the Mother Club Fall Curling Classic in Winnipeg.
Team Tabitha Peterson (No. 15) of St. Paul, Minn., reached the quarterfinals at the event to rise two spots in the world rankings.
On the men’s side, Team John Shuster of Duluth, Minn., climbed a pair of places as well. Shuster (No. 12) finished runner-up to Saskatoon’s Team Mike McEwen at the ATB Okotoks Classic in Okotoks, Alta.
Team Korey Dropkin (No. 17) of Duluth, Minn., gained one spot after reaching the final four in Okotoks. Coincidentally, Dropkin lost to Shuster in the semifinals.
Other teams that moved up in the Top 20:
• Scotland’s Team Cameron Bryce (No. 15) climbed four spots in the men’s division by winning the Match Town Trophy in Jonkoping, Sweden.
• Brad Jacobs made his season debut with his new Edmonton-based team featuring third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert. Jacobs who lost to Switzerland’s Team Michael Brunner in the Okotoks quarterfinals, flipped places with idle Team Niklas Edin of Sweden for No. 6 in the rankings.
• Sweden’s Team Isabella Wranå also pulled off a switcheroo with Italy’s Team Stefania Constantini for No. 7 on the women’s side. Both teams reached the quarterfinals of the Women’s Masters Basel in Switzerland.
• Edmonton’s Team Selena Sturmay (No. 16) gained three spots with a semifinal finish at the Hack2House Alberta Curling Series Women’s Major in Beaumont, Alta., while runner-up Team Kate Cameron (No. 18) of St. Adolphe, Man., climbed four spots to crack the Top 20.