Get to Know the 2019-2020 MCA Board and Representatives
The Midwest Curling Association (MCA), a regional association of the United States Curling Association (USCA), was founded in 1945. The purpose of the MCA is to promote the game of curling at the nine regional curling clubs located in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.
The MCA Board is composed of four main positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. On top of that, each club within the region has a representative. Lastly, a USCA representative rounds out the team. The president of the MCA has a two-year team, whereas, all other positions are up for election every year.
We asked our board members and representatives a few questions so the regional curling community could get to know the individuals behind the Midwest Curling Association. Please enjoy reading their responses below.
David Jamros – MCA President
Where are you from?
Resides in Downers Grove, IL. Member of Windy City Curling Club.
How long have you been curling?
David has been curling for 12 years. After watching the Olympics in college, he decided the sport would be fun. He attended a group outing at Waltham Curling Club, and the rest is history.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
David has been a part of the MCA Board for six years in various capacities. One year as the Waltham representative, one year as the Windy City representative, two years as Vice President, and two years as President.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
David enjoys helping grow the sport at the regional level. In addition, he likes providing another avenue (i.e., MCA bonspiels) for regional clubs to compete against each other.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Winning the Dar Curtis Bonspiel
Jeff Wright – MCA Vice President
Where are you from?
Resides in Libertyville, IL. Member of Exmoor Country Club.
How long have you been curling?
Jeff has been curling for 45 years and began after being introduced to the sport by his family.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Jeff has been on the MCA Board for several years. He was initially the Exmoor representative for one year before moving up to Vice President.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Jeff enjoys watching the sport of curling grow at a regional level.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Winning gold and earning the title of Team USA twice at the USCA Senior National Champions. And winning the bronze medal at the 2018 World Senior Curling Championships.
Mark Striblen – MCA Treasurer
Where are you from?
Resides in Glenview, IL. Member of Exmoor Country Club.
How long have you been curling?
Mark has been curling for ~18 years. His friend, John Winand invited him to the Golfspiel at Northshore. Mark then attended a learn2curl where his main instructor was Ann Brown. After learning, Mark signed up for a league and after a few nights was hooked.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Mark has been the MCA treasurer for 10+ years.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Mark is delighted by the growth of regional curling. He is pleased to watch as clubs gain new members every year and as more clubs are added to the region. In addition, Mark enjoys watching as some MCA clubs transition from arena ice to dedicated ice.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
During his first mixed curling experience, Mark made it to the first event finals at the old Northshore Early Bird Mixed Bonspiel. Also, at his first men’s bonspiel, the Exmoor Men’s Continental, Mark, and his team won the third event.
Tonya Henderson – MCA Secretary
Where are you from?
Resides in Naperville, IL. Member of Windy City Curling Club.
How long have you been curling? And what got you involved with curling?
Tonya has been curling for three years. She bought her husband a learn2curl session for Christmas and was immediately hooked.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
This is Tonya’s first year on the MCA Board.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
As a new member of the board, Tonya looks forward to learning more about how the MCA supports the region’s curling programs.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Meeting some of the greatest broomstackers in the world
Philip Burian – Cedar Rapids Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Iowa City, IA.
How long have you been curling?
Philip has been curling for five years. He started by attending a learn2curl out of curiosity. His main goal for attending the session was to get a picture with a broom as a gag. It turned out he enjoyed the sport so much that he became instantly enamored.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Philip has been a representative for one year.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Philip appreciates the exchange of local information and advice that comes along with being apart of the MCA; in addition, he enjoys the opportunities offered by the MCA to curl on dedicated ice at MCA events.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
While Philip’s most embarrassing accomplishments come to mind more quickly, he was most proud when he watched Cedar Rapid’s club members take the day off work to volunteer at a corporate mini-spiel that raised over $5,000 for United Way.
Jim Wilson – Chicago Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in the Winnetka, IL.
How long have you been curling?
Jim has been curling for 50+ years. His parents belonged to the Madison Curling Club, which was the hub of their social life. In high school, he played on the boy’s varsity curling team for three years.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
This is Jim’s first year as an MCA representative.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Jim likes the idea of helping curling evolve and grow in our area at an opportune time due to last years Olympic success. He believes that if we can help individual clubs and events thrive, then the MCA is doing their job.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
The 1985 Men’s National Championship win and the subsequent semi-final finish at the World Championships, the Silver Broom.
Michael Sible – Des Moines Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Winterset, IA.
How long have you been curling?
Michael saw curling in the Olympics many years ago and threw his first stones at St. Paul Curling Club in 2002.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Michael has been a representative for two years.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
He appreciates how the MCA allows him to get perspectives from other clubs on their operations and goals.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Taking Des Moines Curling Club from 24 members to 66 members
Steve Wright – Exmoor Country Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Libertyville, IL.
How long have you been curling?
Steve has been curling since he was 16 years old and was introduced to the sport by his father, Jeff Wright.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
This is Steve’s first year as an MCA representative.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Steve looks forward to learning more about how the association is comprised and how it can help grow the sport of curling.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
His 2nd place finish at the Club National Championships and his 8-ender
Becca Walters – St. Louis Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in St. Louis, MO.
How long have you been curling?
Becca has been curling for 12 years. She was introduced to curling after attending an open house with a coworker in Seattle. A year after the open house, she signed up for a novice league and has been curling ever since.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Becca has been a representative for two years.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Becca has enjoyed getting to know and become friends with curlers from other clubs in the MCA. She has also appreciated the opportunity to participate in the MCA Illinae Bonspiel.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
On Ice: Winning the A event at the Illinae Bonspiel and being runner-up in the A event at the Granite Curling Club Women’s Spiel and the Waltham Mixed Bonspiels. Off Ice: Contributing to the growth and expansion of St. Louis Curling Club which had no ice for several years prior to her arrival, but after much hard work now has 80+ members, runs multiple leagues, and hosts several bonspiels.
Steve Parke – Waltham Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Bloomington, IL.
How long have you been curling?
Steve has been curling for 13 years. He was first introduced to outdoor curling on a ski trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. That trip was immediately followed up by a group trip to Waltham Curling Club.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
He has been on the MCA Board for a year. Previously, he served as a club representative for Illinois Central Curling Club.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the Midwest Curling Association?
Steve appreciates being able to call into MCA meeting by phone and learn about the progress of curling in the region.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Teaching new people and watching them enjoy the sport
Walter Burns – Wilmette Curling Club Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Lake Forest, IL.
How long have you been curling?
Walter has been curling for 25 years and was introduced to the sport during a guest night.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Walter has been on the MCA Board for 15 years in various capacities. He has served as a marketing specialist, club representative, and president.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Walter appreciates how the MCA encourages club collaboration which weaves the curling community together.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Walter is still waiting for an eight-ender
Jeff Sampson – Windy City Curling Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Downers Grove, IL.
How long have you been curling?
Jeff has been curling for eight years. His co-worker, David Jamros, got him involved by inviting him to a group outing at Waltham Curling Club.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Jeff has been a representative for five years.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the Midwest Curling Association?
Jeff loves the comradery that each club has with each other and their willingness to help, not only the sport but the individual curlers. From veteran curlers to the brand, spanking, new ones.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Getting Windy City Curling up and running
Russ Brown – USCA Representative
Where are you from?
Resides in Lake Forest, IL. Member of Exmoor Country Club.
How long have you been curling?
Russ has been curling for 44 years and was introduced to this sport by his parents and grandparents.
How long have you been on the MCA Board?
Russ has been on the MCA Board for 12 years in various capacities. He has been the Exmoor representative, Vice President, President, historian, and now USCA representative.
What is your favorite part about being involved with the MCA?
Russ enjoys watching new curlers progress in the sport.
What is your proudest curling accomplishment?
Winning the gold medal at Senior Nationals and earning the title of Team USA (twice). Winning the bronze medal at the 2018 Senior World Championships.
Thanks to all the members of the MCA Board for their contributions to our regions curling programs!
Written by: Shannon Brown
