John Shuster beat Pete Fenson 11-1 in four ends in the final game Sunday to take the U.S. men's curling spot in the Sochi Olympics.
''It was like a funeral in here. Believe me, I'd much rather win that way than an extra end,'' Shuster said about the silence when Fenson's team conceded the match after four ends. ''It was pretty sweet. It hasn't sunk in yet, but we have more work ahead of us.''
Shuster, from Duluth, Minn., advanced to the Olympics along with teammates Jeff Isaacson of Gilbert, Minn., and Jared Zezel and John Landsteiner, both also from Duluth.
Fenson, from Bemidji, Minn., teamed with Shawn Rojeski of Chisholm, Minn.; Joe Polo of Duluth; and Ryan Brunt of Portage, Wis.
On Saturday night, Erika Brown of Madison, Wis., and teammates Debbie McCormick of Rio, Wis.; Jessica Schultz of Minneapolis; and Ann Swisshelm of Chicago won the women's competition.
