You’ve all seen it. And while you may not understand it, you’re hooked.

Every four years, the sport of curling graces the television screens of living rooms worldwide. And every Winter Olympics cycle, thousands of people search for an opportunity to try their hand at the unique game.

For Penn Staters looking to do the same, look no further than the Penn State Curling Club.

Founded in 2018, the club aims to bring students together through a shared interest and intrigue in curling. If you lack prior experience, not to worry. Nearly 100% of members were new to the sport when they first joined.

Among this group are vice president Istvan Preda, travel director Thomas Flexer, and treasurer Eric Welp.

“I’m a junior. I’ve been curling for three years. Fall freshman year, I saw an advertisement online, and I was just like ‘I gotta join,’” Flexer said. 

He and Welp both knew each other from high school, so once Flexer decided to give curling a try, Welp immediately followed suit. They both attended a Learn to Curl clinic hosted by the club, and never looked back.

Preda shares a similar story of how he fell in love with the game. Back at the involvement fair, he was handed a curling stone by the club’s president and was taken by its weight (each one weighs between 38 and 44 pounds!)

He originally tried out for Club Pickleball but didn’t make the team. Naturally, Preda transitioned to curling, showing up to the introductory clinic with an open mind.

Penn State offers a recreational team and a club team. The club team offers a more competitive playing environment and allows students to travel the country to take on different schools.

Preda, Flexer, and Welp all began their curling careers on the rec team, but eventually became club team members after dedicating more time to the sport.

They have since traveled to Maine on multiple occasions, along with Arizona State, for competitions. In the club’s office, located on the second floor of the HUB, there exists a map. The map has numerous pins, marking each destination the team has traveled to.

This year, the group will head north to Schenectady, New York, for nationals. It qualified following its win in the Northeast Regionals.

For those looking for a more modest curling experience, the rec league is open to everyone. Practice is held at Pegula Ice Arena on Tuesdays from 10 p.m. to midnight, with Sundays being reserved for intrasquad play. 

“I think rec league teams often have a lot of friends. Somebody will come to our Learn to Curl and need a team,” Flexer said. “These are some of my closest friends here at Penn State. We’ve really become like a family.” 

While this semester’s clinic has already passed, each semester offers a new class for people interested in learning the basics and trying their hand at it.

The object of the game is simple. Try to get as many stones as close to the center “button” as possible to score points. A college curling game consists of eight rounds, known as ends. Each team will throw eight stones each, while the other teammates will use brooms to sweep, attempting to enhance distance or curvature, known as the “curl.”

Flexer likens the scoring to bocce ball.

“If you have two [stones] that are closest to the button, then you’ll score two points. But if the opponent’s stone is between those two, then you’d only score one,” he said.

Fear not if your first few days of curling aren’t perfect. In fact, no curler executes to perfection, even Olympians. 

“The top Olympians, if they’re playing really well, they’re going to shoot around 85%,” Preda said. “We do similar statistics for our own team. On a really, really good day, 50% is the best.”

The pleasure comes in knowing that each game is unique. There will always be room to improve, making curling a pastime that can last forever.

“It’s easy to get into, it takes a lifetime to master,” Welp said.

The club was, in fact, founded following the 2018 Olympics, when the American men’s team won the gold medal in Pyeongchang. Recently, 50 people attended the Learn to Curl clinic, showing the effect international competition has on club membership. 

Though the club continues to grow, it still faces challenges regarding ice time. 

“It’s always a challenge to find time, but we do have some pull as a club sports team,” Welp said. “We do lots of community service and seminar opportunities and things like that. We do get some preference on practice times.”

He also mentions that funding is “always tight,” but Penn State offers good support and chances to fundraise. 

Despite these obstacles, Club Curling is here for the long run. If you have ever wanted to be a curler, now is your chance. Perhaps we will see you in the French Alps in 2030. The club proudly boasts over 100 members, and you can be the next.

“Not to toot our horn, but that’s pretty f****** cool,” Preda said.

Folks interested in joining the club can check out its Instagram here.