USA Curling 2004-05 Athlete Biography

CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

PERSONAL FILE

Curls out of: Milwaukee Curling Club and Green Bay Curling Club

Nickname: Fenny

Curling start: "I was sitting at the bar at the Ozaukee Country Club when a fellow curler asked me what I was doing that evening. I said nothing so he dragged me down to this area in the basement, turned on some lights, and there it was -- four sheets of ice with bulls-eyes on them. I asked him what this was and he told me it was curling. I tried it and was hooked."

What he enjoys most about the sport: "I have played many sports competitively and I now enjoy curling the best. I wish I had found the sport earlier. As an individual you can make the called shots on your own. But as a team you must be able to communicate and work together or you fail. The strategy aspect of the game is great and the momentum changes can be dramatic."

Family members: "My wife (Kris Bartnik) just took up the sport last year. I think it was the only way she could see me during the curling season. She is also enjoying it very much."

Offbeat experiences: "Three years ago I was co-chair of the Milwaukee Men's Bonspiel. It's the first weekend of February; already I have curled over my allotted time. (After three nights of league curling and a bonspiel almost every weekend.) Well as many of you know being a chair or co-chair of an event takes a great deal of time and effort. After not seeing me Wednesday through Sunday because I was working at the 'spiel, my lovely and understanding wife walks into the curling club just as I was sitting down to watch the finals and announces to the entire club watching -- "Curler boy, get your &*&* home" and walks out. She had good reason to be upset, besides the bonspiel I had not taken the Christmas decorations down yet and I was having a Super Bowl party at the Country Club that evening after the bonspiel. I went home, took down the Christmas tree, cleaned the house and she did come with me to the Super Bowl party."

Hobbies: Golf

Strengths in curling: "I love to sweep and sweep hard. That is why I like playing lead on our playdown rink. I get a great deal of enjoyment holding a rock and getting by a guard or carrying a rock that looked like it had no change to score and make it a great shot."