Lee Merklinger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lee Merklinger |
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|---|---|
| Born | 16 September 1984 |
| Team | |
| Curling club | Ottawa CC, Ottawa, ON |
| Career | |
| Member Association |  Ontario |
| Grand Slam victories | 1: Autumn Gold (2012) |
Lee Anne Merklinger was born on September 16, 1984. She is a Canadian curler from Nepean, Ontario. Curling is a sport played on ice where players slide stones towards a target area. Lee Merklinger played as the second for the Sherry Middaugh team on the World Curling Tour for many years.
A second in curling is the player who throws the second two stones for their team. This position is very important for setting up the game. Lee Merklinger's team had some great achievements. They finished second at the 2013 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. They also won a big competition called the 2012 Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic. This was a Grand Slam event, which means it's one of the most important tournaments in curling.
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Lee Merklinger's Curling Journey
Lee Merklinger started her curling career early. She played in junior championships, which are for younger curlers.
Junior Curling Success
From 2000 to 2004, Lee Merklinger was the skip of her own junior teams. The skip is the team captain and decides the strategy for each shot.
- In 2001, her team won a bronze medal at the Ontario Junior Curling Championships.
- In 2003 and 2004, her teams won silver medals at the same championships. This showed she was a very talented young curler.
Playing with Top Teams
After her junior years, Lee Merklinger joined different teams. She often played as the second.
- From 2005 to 2007, she played with Janet McGhee's team.
- She also played with Jenn Hanna's team from 2007 to 2009.
- In 2009, she joined Jo-Ann Rizzo's team.
Time with Sherry Middaugh's Team
Lee Merklinger's most successful period was with Sherry Middaugh's team. She played with them from 2010 to 2018.
- In 2012, they won the Autumn Gold Curling Classic, a major Grand Slam event.
- In 2013, they competed in the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. This competition decides which team represents Canada at the Olympics. They finished second, which was a fantastic achievement.
- They also played in the Canada Cup of Curling several times, finishing sixth in 2012 and 2014, and fourth in 2015.
Later Career
In the 2017-2018 season, Lee Merklinger played as an alternate for Krista McCarville's team at the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. An alternate is a substitute player who can step in if needed. She also continued to play with Sherry Middaugh's team that season.
Lee Merklinger's Family and Life
Lee Merklinger comes from a family that loves curling! Many of her family members are also competitive curlers.
A Family of Curlers
- Her older brother, Dave Merklinger, is a well-known icemaker. Icemakers are very important in curling because they prepare the ice surface for games.
- Her older half-sister, Anne Merklinger, is a former curling champion. Anne won the Tournament of Hearts in 1990 and also a bronze medal at the World Championship in 1990.
- Lee's twin sister, Breanne Merklinger, and her brother, Bill Merklinger, are also competitive curlers. Bill was an alternate for a team at the 2015 Brier, another big curling championship.
Life Outside Curling
Outside of curling, Lee Merklinger works for the Government of Canada. She is a Policy Analyst for Indigenous Services Canada. This means she helps to develop plans and rules for services that support Indigenous communities in Canada. Lee Merklinger is also a member of the Muscowpetung First Nation.
