Husband and wife Brady and Cristin Clark of Lynnwood were part of the Washington team that won the United States Curling Association Mixed Nationals championship in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Mixed curling features four-member teams of two men and two women. The Clarks were joined on the Washington team by Tom Violette of Granite Falls and Bev Walter of Seattle.
The Clarks and Walter have been part of the national championship team four out of the past five years, finishing second in 2004. For Violette, this was his first mixed championship.
“It’s been a great run,” Brady Clark said. “The goal every year is to make the final four and from there to win two more, which are must-win games … It’s always a great feeling to win, and next year we’ll be hoping to win again.”
Said Cristin Clark: “We never take anything for granted. It’s curling, and on any given day any team can win.”
The Washington team defeated a team from Maryland 5-3 in the finals. Other teams at the competition represented Oregon, Alaska, Texas, North Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Brady Clark and Cristin Clark met at curling club in Grand Rapids, N.D. about seven years ago, They were one of several husband-wife pairing at the national championships.
Competing with a spouse means “you have to be very careful about what you say,” Brady Clark said. “But we believe in each other. We’ve gotten so used to each other, and we know when we can open our mouths and provide feedback, when the other one needs a little pat on the back and when we need to shut up.”
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