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Annnnnnnnnd go! |
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Pacitalia |
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The best place on earth. |
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It seemed as though it had been years since the last time a Sarzonian national curling team took to the rinks. However, for one time skip and now coach Mathew Renney, it was only a few short weeks ago that the team competed in the fourth Winter Olympics in Kelssek.
That Olympic adventure didn't go well for any Sarzonian competitor, and curling was no different. The closest the Sarzonians came to the medal stand was a handful of fourth place finishes. It was a far cry from Sarzonia's success in the first Qazoxian Winter Sports Festival. There, the curling team finished with the silver medal and Sarzonia brought home the most medals of any country -- 26 -- and finished level with the host country for most gold medals.
Now, Renney had a new task ahead of him. He had to mold a young squad that was still relatively new to the sport. Unlike the first appearance in the Atlantian Oceania Curling Championships, finding players to round out the squad wasn't a matter of finding five people who were willing and who even knew how to participate in the sport.
This time, Renney's challenge was a matter of assembling the best five. Granted, the player pool still wasn't very large. Only six semi-pro sides competed in the closest Sarzonia came to a national league. But at least he wasn't starting from scratch the way the team was when he served as its skip.
He looked over the uniforms assigned to his team. They had the new logo with the name every Sarzonian national team save the Under 21 football team would carry into competition: The Stars. Yes, the Under 21s were known as the Junior Stars. But at least Health and Athletics would ensure some sense of unity among the competing Sarzonians.
As the final days of training at the Ovechkin Arena in Woodstock finished, Renney decided the final make up of his squad and how it would play. He decided a mix of attack-oriented curling and defence-minded strategy would be the hallmarks for his team.
After the press conference with Renney ended, the following squad listing made the rounds of the gathered media outlets.
Take out/Neutral/Strategic: 3-0-3
SKIP: Sam Brentman (Woodstock)
LEAD: Craig Tolliver (Tacoma)
SECOND: Will Lawrence (Wilmington)
THIRD: Jacob Hall (Portland)
ALTERNATE: Ryan Marcos
RP PERMISSIONS: Choose scorers, but don't Godmode any events.
Renney knew that it would be a tall order to bring home a championship, or even advance to the odd postseason format used in Pacitalia. But he also knew the team had played with some success in the past, and he hoped to bring some of that magic back to Sarzonia.
He also remembered the trip made by Senior Vice President and External Affairs Officer Grant Haffner and Lieutenant President Nicole Lewis to Timiocato as a way the two nations' governments tried to repair the damages to their respective relationships. But he also knew the best way for Sarzonia to demonstrate its committment to their friends and brothers in Pacitalia was on the fields of competition.
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Mar 18 2009, 04:57 PM |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Skip: Pantaleon Xenocrates (Villain)
Lead: Phocas Arsenios (Santa Rosa)
Second: Joannes Severus (Villain)
Third: Vercingetorix Cassian (Icewind Dun)
Alternate: Hesiod Pankratios (Icewind Dun) |
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Demot |
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Royal Scribe |
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Portland Press-Herald
Stars get on board with win
By Jake Curtis
Press-Herald Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- Two ends into his first tournament as Sarzonia's coach after a lengthy playing career, former skip Mathew Renney couldn't be more displeased. His Stars trailed curling debutantes Septentrionia by three stones in their opening draw and looked like the side that flamed out in Kelssek rather than the unit that earned a silver medal in Qazox. After the end, in which Septentrionia scored two stones, Renney pulled his team aside and gave them an earful.
It must have worked. Sarzonia scored three times in the end to equalise and scored single stones in the next four ends, giving the team much-needed momentum and Sarzonia pulled away with a 9-5 victory in front of 15,896 at Centre L'Esportif Marc Fiumerúl.
"We looked like we were shell shocked out there," Renney said after the match. "We had to snap ourselves out of the fog."
They did courtesy of an attack-oriented offence that took Septentrionia by surprise. Before Sarzonia's seventh ranked opponents could respond to Sarzonia's aggressive tactics, the Stars (1-0) already put up seven stones.
"I'm pleased we were able to rally after Septentrionia took the early three-stone lead on us," said skip Sam Brentman. "This is a whole new side and we wanted to make sure we didn't collapse into disunity after facing early adversity."
Sarzonia face their next match against Bazalonia, who defeated another newcomer nation Novus Prosperitas 10-3 in a match that saw the eighth ranked nation concede after eight ends. Bazalonia are ranked third in the region. Brentman said the team didn't expect Septentrionia to concede after the eighth end.
"Why would they," he asked. "They still had a chance to force extra ends if they held us scoreless and they scored two stones. If there's not a realistic chance of winning, that's when you'd concede. It's bad form to continue play when there's no realistic hope of winning a draw."
In other action, top ranked and defending champions Fidelia defeated second ranked Krytenia 11-7 and fifth ranked Demot needed an extra end to defeat Nojika 10-9.
Renney said he expected the Chippers to be a tough opponent, having faced them as Sarzonia's team skip when they were known as Manhattan Prime in the second AOCC.
"They're a team to be respected," he said. "Look how they played Krytenia, especially late. Any team that beats Fidelia, if any team does beat them, is going to have to be nearly perfect." |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Posts: 577 |
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A Team Meeting
PA: So, what are we doing here mates?
PX: The Demotian Sports Association signed up for the AOCC3 and we were picked from a hat to come compete.
JS: But duuuuude, liiiike we don't even have a prooooooofesionaaaaaal league duuuude!"
PX: Aye, but we all play amutuerly. How do you think they got our names?
PA: Good point. However, I suspect we'll get next to no press coverage. I mean, 90% of Demot doesn't even know the rules of the game.
PX: Who needs press coverage? We just got each other right? Quit fighiting Vercingetorix and Hesiod!
HP: He started it!
VC: You called my sister a blond bimbo!
PX: People please, act civilized will you? We're representing our country here. Now, where can we find some pizza?
PA: Ask that funky looking fellow over there?
VC: That's no fellow, that's a fox!
HP: I'm allergic to foxes! I'm outta here! |
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Demot |
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Royal Scribe |
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"And Welcome to the delayed telecast of the Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling, here on BazSports and I'm some random host you don't care about. Due to BazSport commitments to the Bazalonian A-League and other sports, The coverage of the 3rd AOCC will be delayed according to both tournament and broadcast schedules the first match should of already occured as this comes to air and with no time available for catchup, it looks like this will have to continue through-out the tournament. Apologies to our listeners"
"but with that all out of the way lets look at Bazalonia's standing in the tournament and what is expected from the so called Icealopes. First let's look at the roster."
SKIP: Edmond Barton (Georgetown)
LEAD: Luka Jamieson (Trevton City)
SECOND: Daniel Waiters (Georgetown)
THIRD: Alek Rowan (Hilltown)
ALTERNATE: Edward Fitzgerald (Fauxhan)
Here we've got a very diverse team, Alek is a very agressive player taking out opponents curls while Luka relies on his unerring accuracy to score and Daniel the more Strategic player, moving curls to block and keep Luka's curls at home. They are all led ably by their jack oif all trades Skip, Edmond. Edward is the teams alternate and is the only Curler from the national capital, he's new to the national scene but has made a big splash on the national circuit so it still to be seen if he can step up to the plate on the international scene.
The overall style is very mixed with everyone taking a different route to the end goal, however versatility is as they say always a good thing,
and now let's look at our opponents in order of battle...
Novus Prosperitas
Sarzonia
Demot
Krytenia
Fidelia
Nojika
Septentrionia
Bazalonia is the third seed behind only Krytenia and Fideli, it is too early to tell what the result will be but we predice easy wins against Novus Prosperitus and Septentrionia, our first and last matches of the tournament.
This is BazSports Delayed coverage of the 3rd Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling. Goodnight.
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Bazalonia |
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Eating A Bazalope Burger |
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Take out/Neutral/Strategic: 1-2-3
SKIP: Deon Lillee (Osteria)
LEAD: Stephen Orford (Bulham)
SECOND: Ashley Piara (Monthuez)
THIRD: Sebastian Corsonoti (Monthuez)
ALTERNATE: Oliver Newton (Osteria)
RP PERMISSIONS: Go nuts.
Well, it's curling again, and the Krytenian national team are hoping to do better that their last-eight performance at the last AOCC. This shouldn't be difficult, though, owing to the fact that only eight teams are participating in this tournament.
Krytenia, inexplicably the second seeds for the tournament, have had a spluttering start, losing to reigning champs Manhattan Pr....er, Fidelia, and then Demot (seriously, every single damn sport - Ed), before finally beating Nojika in game three. |
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Krytenia |
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Now With Added Bekk! |
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Portland Press-Herald
Stars chipped by Fidelia
By Jake Curtis
Press-Herald Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- Some losses leave coaches livid. A team might not execute the tactics its coaches discussed carefully and installed through days of training. Sometimes, however, a coach or players simply have to tip their hats to an opponent after a thorough beating.
For Sarzonia's curling side against defending AOCC champions Fidelia, the latter was true. The Chippers dominated early and late and throttled Sarzonia 10-2 in the third draw of the third Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling in front of 15,813 at Centre L'Esportif Marc Fiumerúl.
After Sarzonia's 8-7 loss to Bazalonia in the second draw, Coach Mathew Renney screamed at his players after they blew a one-stone lead in the 10th end and made it clear he was displeased in the media room after the match. This time, Renney spoke in hushed tones and had a decidedly sombre demeanour.
"We just ran into one of the very best curling sides in the world if not the best," Renney said. "I suppose I could be upset with my players, but you've got to give Fidelia credit. There's a reason they're the top-ranked curling side in Atlantian Oceania."
The Chippers (3-0) scored two stones in each of the first two ends, building a 4-0 lead before Sarzonia could get one stone back in the third and fourth ends respectively. Following the fourth end, Ryan Marcos replaced lead Craig Tolliver when Tolliver complained of pain in his right calf. A Pacitalian trainer said after the match that Tolliver suffered from dehydration.
Renney said someone took Tolliver's water bottle as a prank.
"We couldn't find it for three ends. By the time we did, it was already 8-2 in the sixth end." And by then, the match was well in hand. After the seventh end when Sarzonia (1-2) failed to score and Fidelia scored twice, skip Sam Brentman skated over to shake hands with the Fidelian skip, conceding the match.
Renney, who said he'd never conceded a match in his playing days, said he had no problem with Brentman's choice.
"Really, it was a bloodbath by then," he said. "There was no way we would score nine stones in the eighth end and win the match. I'm a competitor, but I'm also realistic."
Contact Jake Curtis at
jake.curtis@press-herald.co.srz
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Mar 21 2009, 09:10 PM |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Posts: 577 |
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Portland Press-Herald
Stars back on track
By Jake Curtis
Press-Herald Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- A two-match losing streak against defending Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling champion Fidelia and third ranked Bazalonia put the Sarzonian team in a precarious position. Lose their fixture against the lowest ranked side Novus Prosperitas and the team would be 1-3 ahead of a critical fixture against second ranked Krytenia.
Coach Mathew Renney worried that his team might face a "loser's hangover" after falling 10-2 to Fidelia and doing one thing Sarzonians are loath to do: concede. He wanted to see how his team would respond to adversity.
The Stars responded by dominating early and late, defeating Novus Prosperitas 10-6 and evening the team's record to 2-2 through four matches.
"We've got a three-match season now," Renney said. "It begins with the fixture against Krytenia."
The Aces are also 2-2 and currently sit in the elimination half of the pool based on point differential. The Stars have conceded one more stone than they've scored, while the Aces sit at minus-three.
"We know how important this fixture will be," said skip Sam Brentman. "If we're going to advance to the playoffs, we're going to need to get this match."
Lead Craig Tolliver returned to the starting lineup after the team located his water bottle and he sat for the remainder of the Fidelia match with cramps. Third Jacob Hall was suspended for the match when he admitted to stealing Tolliver's water bottle as a joke. Alternate Ryan Marcos started in his place.
"I wanted to do something to lighten the mood of the team," Hall said. "When [Tolliver] cramped up, I realised it wasn't time for a practical joke. I accept responsibility for it."
The lineup didn't matter against Novus Prosperitas. That team currently stands at 1-3, ahead of winless Septentrionia, but the Stars would have won the match regardless of whether Hall was in the lineup or not.
"We played well," said second Will Lawrence. "When we're doing well, there aren't many teams that can outclass us."
Contact Jake Curtis at
jake.curtis@press-herald.co.srz |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Posts: 577 |
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Portland Press-Herald
After earthquake, Stars try to restore normalcy
By Jake Curtis
Daily Mail Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- Members of the Sarzonian national curling side are expected to resume training tomorrow, one day after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake ripped through the Massopra channel, approximately 20 kilometres from Puntafora, Pacitalia's seventh largest city.
The team announced today that it would don black armbands in honour of 1,400 confirmed dead as of this morning. Pacitalian officials expect the death toll to rise dramatically.
"It's a terrible tragedy," said coach Mathew Renney. "It reminds us all that there is life outside the sporting arena and that there are other things that are far more important than wins or losses."
Lead Craig Tolliver led the team to a nearby village to help with relief efforts just six hours after its 12-8 victory over Nojika secured the fourth and final spot in the Page playoff system. He said the team spent several hours delivering emergency supplies and third Jacob Hall joined emergency medical efforts.
"Jake's an EMT," Tolliver said. "As soon as we got there, he went to work."
"The first duty of emergency medical personnel is to see to injured or wounded," Hall said. "That takes precedence over anything else, including a curling match. Especially a curling match," he said, looking away and pausing for a moment.
"We'll do our best to concentrate, but it's hard." He took in a deep breath and quickly turned to go back into the dressing room.
As for the match itself, Sarzonia face a rematch with Krytenia at Centre L'Esportif Marc Fiumerúl. Krytenia defeated the Stars 9-7 in the fifth draw to drop Sarzonia's record to 2-3. The Stars have rallied to two consecutive victories, starting with a 11-5 win over Demot in nine ends.
"We hope we can build on a little momentum," said skip Sam Brentman. "But our mission now is to provide a little bit of release for people so they can get away from the stress of rebuilding their lives, even if it is for just a short while."
Contact Jake Curtis at
jake.curtis@press-herald.co.srz
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Mar 25 2009, 10:32 AM |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Posts: 577 |
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Portland Press-Herald
Stars post comeback win
By Jake Curtis
Press-Herald Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- Third Jacob Hall's single point stone in the 10th end rallied the Sarzonian national curling team to a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over third ranked Krytenia in a semifinal fixture in the third Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling at Centre L'Esportif Marc Fiumerúl.
The Stars (5-3) advance to the half-final against the region's top ranked side, defending champion Fidelia, which fell to region No. 2 Bazalonia 13-10 in the other semifinal. Krytenia are eliminated from competition, while Bazalonia await the winner of the Sarzonia-Fidelia fixture.
"We showed a lot of heart out there," coach Mathew Renney said. "It was difficult for us to concentrate after seeing so many people affected by the earthquake."
The Sarzonians spent a day they would normally devote to training and preparing for their match against Krytenia helping relief efforts near Puntafora. Their plane arrived back in Bergamo at 11:30 p.m. AOTC+3, a full hour past Renney's curfew. However, Renney said he had no problem with breaking curfew given the circumstances.
"We realise that priorities for millions of people right now aren't centred on curling," he said. "I'm amazed Jacob was able to do what he did after providing emergency medical help to so many people yesterday. He was drained."
Hall said playing the match was "a welcome relief" after logging 12 hours trying to help displaced and injured Pacitalians.
"You see what's really going on out there," he said, his voice quivering. "It reminds you that if you're lucky enough to play a game for a living, you're really fortunate." He put his head down and breathed an audible sigh. "All our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Puntafora and everyone in Pacitalia who's going through such a hard time."
The Stars trailed 5-1 after the third end when Krytenia scored twice in the first end and three times in the third. Krytenia (4-4) seemed to put the match away in the top of the eighth end when they scored a single stone to take an 8-5 lead, but Sarzonia scored three times in the bottom of the ninth end to equalise. After second Will Lawrence denied a Krytenian attempt in the top of the 10th end, it set the stage for Hall.
Hall said he didn't want to be called a hero.
"Real heroism is what firefighters and emergency personnel here in Pacitalia are doing helping people who are hurting," he said. "I'm just playing a game. I don't know how I was able to put everything out of my mind and do what I had to, but I did it."
Fidelia (6-2) defeated the Stars 10-2 in their previous meeting in Draw 3. Sarzonia said they aren't thinking about revenge.
"We're just trying to advance to the finals," Lawrence said. "Talking about revenge sounds a bit silly given the tragic circumstances people here are dealing with."
Contact Jake Curtis at
jake.curtis@press-herald.co.srz |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Posts: 577 |
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Portland Press-Herald
Stars rally to finals berth
By Jake Curtis
Press-Herald Staff Writer
BERGAMO -- The third time proved to be the charm for the Sarzonian national curling side.
Sarzonia had never defeated Fidelia in a curling fixture in two previous meetings, but scored seven of the last eight points in the half-final match of the third Atlantian Oceania Championship of Curling to defeat the Chippers 11-9 in front of a sold out crowd of 16,121 at Centre d'Esportif Marc Fiumerúl.
The Stars (6-3) will face second ranked Bazalonia in the final after eliminating the defending AOCC champions with a seemingly habitual come-from-behind victory. The Stars trailed the Chippers (6-3) 8-4 after six ends before rallying.
"It was one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen," said coach Mathew Renney. "[Third Jacob Hall] was outstanding late." Hall dominated his Chippers opponents in the late ends, proving to be the difference according to several Stars players.
"I just tried to do my job the best I could," Hall said. "There was no magic to tonight's match."
Fidelia might beg to differ. After the first four ends saw Sarzonia and Fidelia trade two-point ends, the Chippers scored two stones each in the fifth and six ends to take what seemed to be a commanding 8-4 lead. After Fidelia defeated the Stars 10-2 in seven ends, that seemed to be all the Chippers would need.
However, that's when Hall got started. He sparked Sarzonia's three-point seventh end, which cut Fidelia's lead to 8-7 before the Stars scored two in the eighth end, giving Sarzonia its first lead of 9-8. The Chippers rallied for another single stone in the top of the ninth end to equalise, but Hall stepped in for the bottom of the 10th end. His two-point stone in that frame was enough to give the Stars the upset victory.
"We have one more match to play," Hall said. "Our work isn't done by any stretch."
Bazalonia received a bye directly to the finals with its 13-10 victory over Fidelia in the first semifinal match of the Page playoff system. It finished level with Fidelia for the best record in the round robin stage at 6-1.
Contact Jake Curtis at
jake.curtis@press-herald.co.srz
This post has been edited by Sarzonia on Mar 28 2009, 02:49 PM |
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Sarzonia |
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It's all about the Navy. |
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Manhattan Herald – March 2009
AOCC3 Update – Fidelia Defeated in Curling Half Finals!
Fidelia 9, Sarzonia 11 (10 ends)
CODE
FDL 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 9 Elim
SRZ 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 11 X To F
10 F
The Fidelian Curling team's winning streak came to an abrupt halt tonight at the hands of close allies Sarzonia, against whom the Frozen Chips had twice previously tasted victory.
With the match overshadowed by a tragic earthquake in Pacitalia's 7th city, Fidelia started off brightly, grabbing 2 points in the first end through Pete Kowalski, whilst Sarzonia equalised in the 2nd end. Quickly finding their form, the Frozen Chips went 8-4 up by the end of the 6th end, and were looking to be in control of their opponents once again.
However the Sarzonian side rallied surpubly, producing one of the displays of the tournament to notch up 5 points in just 2 ends to take the lead 9-4, before polishing off the fixture with a final two points. Fidelia by contrast could offer only 1 more, finishing the game 11-9 down.
Fidelian Skip Owen Westwood applauded the efforts of members of the Sarzonian team with medical training to assist in the recent disaster, describing them as a fantastic example to curlers everywhere. Both teams wore black armbands on the rink and Westwood applauded the rapid donations flooding south from the Fidelian government and from concerned citizens at a nationwide phonebank appeal. "Pacitalians of all races and ages stood by us during the Civil War, now it is our turn to open our wallets to brothers in need" he said. The vast majority of the Fidelian fans will be remaining in Pacitalia for the final, delighted with their team's bronze medal finish.
First: Pete Kowalski - age 24
Second: Chad Brown - age 27
Third: Jimmy Hopkins - age 28 (Vice)
Fourth: Owen Westwood - age 30 (Skip)
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