The Anthracite Curling Club, which holds curling events at Coal Street Rink in Wilkes-Barre, is drawing interest from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania.
BY KEVIN WOODRUFF
Anthracite Curling Club based out of the Coal Street Rink in Wilkes-Barre is drawing interest from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The club, which started in 2006 as the Scranton Curling Club around the time of the Olympic Games in Turin Italy, curled throughout 2006-7 before losing its ice at the Pittston Ice Box.
However, once the Coal Street Rink opened last year, the club reformed under its current name.
“We had about five members left over from the original club,” club president Allison Piatt said. “And we started up the new club in March with an open house.”
This was around the time of the Olympic Games in Vancouver, and at the open house on Mar. 13, the group had more than 130 people attend.
“Our roster went from five members to about 60,” Piatt said. “The event was a big success.”
Then from the end of March until late August, the group held the Anthracite Curling Club Summer League which featured 16 teams of four.
Piatt said that the club is one of only three in Pennsylvania, and it has been attracting members from all over the region.
“We have people come from all over, even a few from out of state,” Piatt said.
Some local members of the include Mark Doval of South Montrose, and Bruce and Eileen Baessler of Montrose.
And Piatt said that the group is always looking for more members.
“The appeal of the sport is that its something unique,” Piatt said. “Many folks who may not think of themselves as athletes are surprised how quickly they can learn the basics of the sport. You don’t even need to know how to skate.”
Piatt said that another great aspect about curling is the fact that it is a lifelong sport with many accommodations for people of all ages and skill levels.
Currently, the group is running “Saturday Night Curling” events twice a month at Coal Street from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., until its next league schedule starts up in early spring.
She encourages anyone who is interested in coming out to give the sport a shot.
“The competition is great,” Piatt said. “And it’s a very social activity. You can make a lot of friends. Everyone is always shaking hands, and a lot of us socialize outside of curling.”
The cost to non-members is $25 per session, and $23 for people with a valid college ID. The next Saturday night event will be held on Dec. 18.
For more information, visit www.anthracitecurling.com.
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