USA Curling 2004-05 Athlete Biography

CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

• U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2005
• Duluth Cashspiel: 2004 (qualifier)
• Wisconsin State Women's Championship: 2004 (runner-up)
• Illinois State Women's Championship: 2003 (runner-up)
• National Women's Qualifier (for the Olympic Trials): 2001 (7th)
• USWCA All-American Event Winner: 2004
• Badger State Games: 2003 (gold), 2002 (gold)

PERSONAL FILE    
Curls out of: Green Bay Curling Club

Curling strength: "I love to sweep."

Something unique: "Team Karst is made up of four left-handers, but only Shelly delivers left."

Nicknames: Pistol, L.L.

Training: "As a workout routine mine varies per season and I am a firm believer in cross-training. I prefer to work out in early morning before my work day starts." Laurie's workout varies between running, rowing, curling, biking, skiing and crew.

"I am an avid bicyclist and member of the Bellin Health/InCompetition Cycling Team. I love to run. I right now average 18-20 miles a week and have run three marathons one being the Boston Marathon in 1997 and I won the Madison Marathon Women's Master Division in 1999. I crew out of the Labaie Verte Rowing Club in DePere. Someone once told me I was too short (5'2") to be a rower. In August 2003, I won my first national master's rowing medal -- a bronze in the women's double (2x) in Sacramento, Calif. In August 2004, in the national master's rowing regatta I won a silver in the Mixed 4+, which is a sweep boat, in Tennessee. This is an awesome sport, which involves a full-body workout much like sweeping a stone as hard as you can for 24 seconds."

Curling start: "My start in curling came from my touch football coach when he brought us to an open house one night. He said he had a great winter sport that includes a lot of physical activity and is very team orientated set in a highly social atmosphere. We had a blast. I happened to win a free one-year membership promoting the open house. I wasn't quite sure on making the commitment until one evening in November I received a phone call welcoming me to the club, that I was a member of their team and they would pick me up Thursday night at 6:30. They knew where I lived! Well, the rest is history. I was hooked. I was very fortunate to befriend Tom and Carla Casper who have been a tremendous help to my curling successes, as mentors, teachers and friends. Their daughter, Chris, is the person who got me started in competitive curling and introduced me to Lori Karst. I am forever grateful to the Caspers."

In her own words: "My life has been so blessed and the best part of reaching these goals was the adventure getting there and the tremendous amount of wonderful people I encountered along the way. Curling is a sport for all ages, sizes and shapes, and a great equalizer. I've played against juniors, seniors, women, men, mixed and open and learned valuable lessons from all. My teammates and coach are so positive and emotional about curling. We feed off each other for strength and support. Our team dynamics is a definite asset. I am a firm believer in living your dreams. Never accept failure -- learn from it and come back stronger and more knowledgeable. It is a dream come true to be playing in the Olympic Trials. A tribute to hard work, physical as well as mental dedication and a team and coach that believe in each other, on and off the ice. My number one code of ethics is to believe in yourself. Remember, "you don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing."