MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Meijer State Games first event kicked off this morning or should I say slid off. Athletes from all over the Midwest had a chance to go for gold in curling.9 teams with all different levels of experience gathered at Lakeview Arena to put their skills to the test.
Eric Engelbarts the state game director says “Our tagline is you don’t need to be an olympian to play olympic sports.” The event started like any tournament should, with a parade and bagpiper.”
Participants got some tips and advice from volunteers with experience curling. After the practice session was over the competition started. Alec Nannestad, a participant, “we’re really happy with the turnout; typically there’s only a handful of people and we have a few dozen out here now.”
The man behind the event is Barry Greenleaf, his passion for curling aligns with the state games theme. He loves teaching the sport to new players and growing the game. greenleaf says “the goal has been accomplished. we have people who have never curled before here, which is the idea behind the meijer state games, all abilities, all ages.”
The organizers of the games say that people like Barry are part of the reason they choose to host the games in Marquette. The spirit and enthusiasm volunteers here in the u.p bring to the events make the games something special.
The winners of the event are as follows:
Gold – Nicolet Bank
Jeremy Bloomfield
Spenser Larson
Rebekah Trudgeon
Ross Anthony
Silver -UP State Bank
Andy Herro
Eric Lori
Marcus Krachinski
Casy Collegnon
Bronze – Range Bank
Kim Erickson
Adam Mohrman
Hollie Myers
Debbie Wilke
Gerry Martin