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U.S. Men's Curling Team Gold Medal sparks new interest back home in Wisconsin

Posted at 1:44 PM, Feb 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-25 14:44:51-05

WAUWATOSA -- The Olympics in South Korea are generating more interest in winter sports back here at home.

While snowboarding, speed skating and figure skating are always big draws -- an often "less-talked about" sport is gaining a lot of hype, and rightfully so.

Before the 2018 games began, you'd find at most a couple dozen people at the Wauwatosa Curling Club on a Saturday. But the morning after the U.S. Men's Curling Team won a gold medal, the ice is filled with more than 150 people wanting to learn.

"That was an incredible, incredible game," says Lauren Robb who is a member of the Wauwatosa Curling Club, and helps teach others how to play.

"It was just exciting because the U.S. Curling Team has never really done that well in the Olympics, and to see a team like that try so hard and come back and do what they did, was fantastic," adds Kim Enzenroth of Wauwatosa.

This is Enzenroth's first try at the sport. He had little expectation.

"I just wanted to be able to stand up on the ice and not fall down and hurt myself," he jokes. "Watching it on TV sparked my interest."

Kevin Darczek, has also been wanting to learn.

"The Olympics definitely re-ignited my interest," Darczek says. "I think the story behind the American team is very inspiring, and I think this will get a lot more Americans interested in curling for sure."

One day a month the Wauwatosa Curling Club offers some introductory classes.

"We have members who are six-years-old to 80-years-old," Robb says. 

That's one of the beauties of the sport: anyone can do it. You'll find people of all abilities playing together.

"What a fun thing to try," Enzenroth says. "It was more thrilling than I expected."

"I can see myself getting very competitive with it," adds Darczek. "I would recommend it for anyone!"

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