# 2012 United States Women's Curling Championship – Qualification

Qualification for the 2012 United States Women's Curling Championship took place in one round in January in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The number of entrants to the national championships was cut down to ten teams through a challenge round.

## Qualification System

Teams qualified for the women's nationals either by qualifying automatically as one of the top four teams on the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or by qualifying through the challenge round. The four teams that qualified automatically to the championships, an increase from last year's two teams qualified through the Order of Merit, were chosen based on the Order of Merit upon the conclusion of the Curl Mesabi Cash Spiel. This year, the teams are those skipped by Erika Brown, Rebecca Hamilton, Patti Lank, and Alexandra Carlson. The other six spots in the nationals will be awarded through competition in the challenge round.
The challenge round was held with the double knockout provision in place. The double knockout provision states that a team is eliminated from qualifying for the nationals if the team has at least two losses in their win-loss record. If there are teams with less than two losses, they will play each other until the number of teams still able to qualify matches the number of qualification spots available.

### Challenge round

Since there are more than ten teams registered to the nationals this year, the teams that did not qualify directly for the nationals competed to earn one of six remaining spots in the nationals through the challenge round, which was held from January 19 to 22 in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The challenge round was held in a knockout format, as decided by the organizing committee. The teams that advanced from the challenge round were those skipped by Maureen Stolt, Cassandra Potter, Janice Langanke, Allison Pottinger, Aileen Sormunen, Kimberly Wapola.

## Challenge round

The challenge round was held from January 19 to 22 at the Marshfield Curling Club in Marshfield, Wisconsin. It was held in a triple knockout format. Teams skipped by Maureen Stolt, Cassandra Potter, Janice Langanke, Allison Pottinger, Aileen Sormunen, and Kimberly Wapola advanced to the Nationals.

### Participating teams

The following is a list of all teams registered to participate in the regional qualifiers.
Key :
* Teams Directly to Nationals
| Skip | Third | Second | Lead | Alternate | Locale |
| Erika Brown | Debbie McCormick | Jessica Schultz | Ann Swisshelm | | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Alexandra Carlson | Monica Walker | Kendall Moulton | Jordan Moulton | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Cristin Clark | Emily Good | Elle LeBeau | Sharon Vukich | | Seattle, Washington |
| Brigid Ellig | Jennifer Westhagen | Heather Van Sistine | Brittany Falk | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Rebecca Hamilton | Tara Peterson | Karlie Koenig | Sophie Brorson | | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Shelly Kinney | Amy Lou Anderson | Elyse Sorenson | Julie Smith | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Janice Langanke | Ashley Lawreck | Nina Reiniger | Nicole Arsenault | | Middletown, New Jersey |
| Patti Lank | Nina Spatola | Caitlin Maroldo | Molly Bonner | Mackenzie Lank | Lewiston, New York |
| Cassandra Potter | Jamie Haskell | Jaclyn Lemke | Stephanie Sambor | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Allison Pottinger | Nicole Joraanstad | Natalie Nicholson | Tabitha Peterson | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Nicole Reiser | Michelle Wagner | Gabrielle Coleman | Ann Drummie | | Mandan, North Dakota |
| Aileen Sormunen | Courtney George | Amanda McLean | Miranda Solem | | Duluth, Minnesota |
| Maureen Stolt | Megan Pond | Emilia Juocys | Sherri Schummer | | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Amanda Tucker | Randi Schieber | Alex Schieber | Rachel Tharalson | | St. Thomas, North Dakota |
| Kimberly Wapola | Victoria Forconi | Carol Strojny | Sharon Wright | Connie Kupferschmidt | St. Paul, Minnesota |

### Knockout Brackets
#### A Event

| First Knockout | First Knockout | First Knockout | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 1 |
| Janice Langanke | Janice Langanke | 6 | | | | | | |
| Kimberly Wapola | Kimberly Wapola | 3 | Janice Langanke | Janice Langanke | 6 | | | |
| | | | Allison Pottinger | Allison Pottinger | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | | Janice Langanke | Janice Langanke | 5 |
| | | | | | | Maureen Stolt | Maureen Stolt | 7 |
| | | | Maureen Stolt | Maureen Stolt | 5 | | | |
| | | | Cristin Clark | Cristin Clark | 2 | | | |
| First Knockout | First Knockout | First Knockout | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 2 |
| Shelly Kinney | Shelly Kinney | 9 | | | | | | |
| Amanda Tucker | Amanda Tucker | 8 | Shelly Kinney | Shelly Kinney | 2 | | | |
| | | | Cassandra Potter | Cassandra Potter | 9 | | | |
| | | | | | | Cassandra Potter | Cassandra Potter | 10 |
| Nicole Reiser | Nicole Reiser | W | | | | Aileen Sormunen | Aileen Sormunen | 7 |
| Brigid Ellig | Brigid Ellig | L | Nicole Reiser | Nicole Reiser | 8 | | | |
| | | | Aileen Sormunen | Aileen Sormunen | 9 | | | |

#### B Event

| Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 3 | Qualifier 3 | Qualifier 3 |
| Kimberly Wapola | Kimberly Wapola | 8 | | | | | | |
| Nicole Reiser | Nicole Reiser | 6 | Kimberly Wapola | Kimberly Wapola | 8 | | | |
| | | | Shelly Kinney | Shelly Kinney | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | | Kimberly Wapola | Kimberly Wapola | 4 |
| | | | | | | Janice Langanke | Janice Langanke | 11 |
| Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Second Knockout | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 4 | Qualifier 4 | Qualifier 4 |
| Amanda Tucker | Amanda Tucker | 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Brigid Ellig | Brigid Ellig | 4 | Amanda Tucker | Amanda Tucker | 7 | | | | | | |
| | | | Cristin Clark | Cristin Clark | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Amanda Tucker | Amanda Tucker | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | Allison Pottinger | Allison Pottinger | 7 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Allison Pottinger | Allison Pottinger | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | Aileen Sormunen | Aileen Sormunen | 3 |

#### C Event

| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Qualifier 5 | Qualifier 5 | Qualifier 5 |
| Shelly Kinney | Shelly Kinney | 10 | | | |
| Cristin Clark | Cristin Clark | 6 | Shelly Kinney | Shelly Kinney | 5 |
| | | | Aileen Sormunen | Aileen Sormunen | 11 |
| Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Third Knockout | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualifier 6 | Qualifier 6 | Qualifier 6 |
| Nicole Reiser | Nicole Reiser | 7 | | | | | | |
| Brigid Ellig | Brigid Ellig | 8 | Brigid Ellig | Brigid Ellig | 9 | | | |
| | | | Amanda Tucker | Amanda Tucker | 4 | | | |
| | | | | | | Brigid Ellig | Brigid Ellig | 8 |
| | | | | | | Kimberly Wapola | Kimberly Wapola | 10 |

### Knockout results
#### Draw 1

Friday, January 20, 2:00 pm
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Janice Langanke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 6 |
| Kimberly Wapola | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Shelly Kinney | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Amanda Tucker | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sheet 3 | Final |
| Nicole Reiser | W |
| Brigid Ellig | L |
Team Ellig was unable to field four registered players to start the competition, by rule an automatic forfeit.

#### Draw 2

Friday, January 20, 7:00 pm
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Maureen Stolt | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 |
| Cristin Clark | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 2 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Janice Langanke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Allison Pottinger | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Shelly Kinney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | X | X | 2 |
| Cassandra Potter | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | X | X | 9 |

#### Draw 3

Saturday, January 21, 9:00 am
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Janice Langanke | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Maureen Stolt | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| Nicole Reiser | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Aileen Sormunen | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Amanda Tucker | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | 13 |
| Brigid Ellig | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 |

#### Draw 4

Saturday, January 21, 2:00 pm
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Cassandra Potter | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | X | 10 |
| Aileen Sormunen | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 7 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Amanda Tucker | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | X | X | 7 |
| Cristin Clark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | X | X | 1 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Kimberly Wapola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Nicole Reiser | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |

#### Draw 5

Saturday, January 21, 7:00 pm
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| Nicole Reiser | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Brigid Ellig | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Kimberly Wapola | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| Shelly Kinney | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Amanda Tucker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 |
| Allison Pottinger | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 7 |

#### Draw 6

Sunday, January 22, 8:00 am
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Kimberly Wapola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | X | X | 4 |
| Janice Langanke | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | X | X | X | 11 |
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Allison Pottinger | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | 7 |
| Aileen Sormunen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Shelly Kinney | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Cristin Clark | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |

#### Draw 7

Sunday, January 22, 1:00 pm
| Sheet 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Shelly Kinney | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | X | X | 5 |
| Aileen Sormunen | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | X | X | X | 11 |
| Sheet 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Final |
| Brigid Ellig | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | X | 9 |
| Amanda Tucker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 |

#### Draw 8

Sunday, January 22, 6:00 pm
| Sheet 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| Brigid Ellig | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Kimberly Wapola | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |