FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2006

Grafton's Jaster named USA Curling Developmental Coach of the Year

(STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - A long career of molding North Dakota youth curlers has helped Mary Jaster of Grafton, N.D., earn the 2006 USA Curling Developmental Coach of the Year honors.

"I'm very surprised and pleased," Jaster said of the award. "I'm enjoying coaching and am passionate about the sport. I love teaching it so it seems like a natural fit that I would be a coach. I was just so shocked when I found out I won."

This year Jaster, 48, continued her work running an after-school program at the Grafton Curling Club, a role she has assumed for the past decade. She also coached the Amanda Tucker rink of Grafton at the 2006 U18 Optimist International Championship in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She will begin her third season coaching Tucker's team this fall after being recruited by George Phillips of Langdon, N.D.

"Kids are fresh, and so quick to learn and eager for more," Jaster said. "I think that's why I love coaching kids so much. They just want to keep learning."

Jaster is the heart and soul of the Grafton Curling Club's youth programs and open houses, according to fellow club member and nominator Ben Tucker. "Mary's abilities to instruct, communicate, organize and encourage are unbelievable," Tucker said. "All the way from the basic delivery tips to the deepest aspects of the game such as team chemistry and competitive strategies, she knows it and, more importantly, can convey it. If every club had a Mary Jaster, the future of our game would be secure."

In addition to coaching and running programs at the club, Jaster also excels as a curler. She has competed at five U.S. National Championships, the 2002 U.S. Mixed National Championship, and the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Curling.

After learning to curl in a high school physical education class, Jaster took a brief break from curling until she finished business college. She has now curled at the Grafton Curling Club since 1977 and curled in Grand Forks for a short period as well.

Jaster works as an administrative assistant with the State of North Dakota Developmental Center. She is married to Miles and has two sons, Joey, 22, and Josh, 18.

This is the first time Jaster has received this honor from the USCA. The developmental and coach of the year awards were introduced in 1996. Jaster's name will be forwarded to the United States Olympic Committee for consideration for its Developmental Coach of the Year award.

The Developmental Coach of the Year must be a coach of a youth club, high school or junior-level coach, or a coach directly responsible for developing athletes to the elite national level or junior national level. The Coach of the Year and Development Coach of the Year awards are determined by the USCA Coaching Committee.

USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, AmerAust Technologies, Hilton and Nike as well as by AT&T, General Motors, The Home Depot, and Bank of America through a joint marketing program with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

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For more information: Terry Luder, USA Curling, terry.luder@usacurl.org, 715-344-1199