Curling is a sport most locals will only think about every four years as part of the Olympic games. While the sport is wildly popular in the Midwest and Canada, very few people have come in contact with it in Oregon.

The Evergreen Curling Club was formed in 2002 in the wake of excitement around the Salt Lake City Winter games. Initially the club played at Mountain View Ice Arena in Vancouver and then spent eight years at the Lloyd Center. In 2012, the club opened its own curling facility in Beaverton, making it the only dedicated ice in Oregon.

As part of moving to Beaverton, the club started a juniors program for kids in grades 5-12.

"An active, thriving junior program was a personal priority for me because I had so much fun curling when I was a kid in Wisconsin," said Bruce Irvin, junior curling coordinator. "Juniors are important to the club because they add so much to the social culture of curling.

"Over the past couple of years, we created our own rigorous development program in which curlers advance through six levels of achievement. Each level requires the curler to demonstrate specific curling knowledge, skills, service and leadership … (helping) them to understand strategy, teamwork and the mental aspects of the sport."

Despite being around for only four years, the junior program has exhibited signs of success. In February, the club will send five juniors to the U18 national championships in Bemidji, Minn., for only the second time.

"One of my best friends from when I was little got me into curling. I thought I would try it out and fell in love with it," said Clara Mays, one of the juniors going to nationals. "I enjoy the variety of people you get to meet, and how much strategy is involved in the game. I enjoy traveling and meeting people from all over because it’s not a super popular sport."

"I started in the junior program … I just came to junior practices for a year and then I started playing games. I really just learned how to curl at practices, coming every week," said Elsa Naimo, one of Mays’ teammates. "I really like having the junior curling practice because it gives me a chance to work on my shots every week … just being in a fun practice setting. Plus teaching the little kids is really rewarding."

Mays and Naimo are returning to the U18 nationals for a second year and are part of a team known as the "Whirlies." The Whirlies are somewhat infamous at ECC not only because of how well they curl among juniors, but for how they also dominate at the adult level in Oregon.

The Whirlies are the reigning Oregon state women's champions and finished in fifth place while representing Oregon at the Pacific International Cup in Richmond, British Columbia.

"The Whirlies bring a unique energy to the sport. They have a fun, positive attitude that is possibly unmatched by any other curling team," Irvin said. "The more experienced curlers in the club all know the Whirlies, have competed against them in leagues and bonspiels, and are immensely proud of the girls.

“When the Whirlies are competing in a bonspiel, the club is sometimes filled with curlers who love nothing more than to see them win against adult teams."

Said Naimo:

"It's really fun playing adults. Adults can look at us sometimes and say, 'You are really good curling at your age,' but then they discover we are actually good curlers like everyone else."

The Whirlies consist of four girls from Franklin High School: Mays, Naimo, Maya Horten and Kyzen Pemberton.

Other students at Franklin have started to take notice of the girls as they continue to have success.

"A lot of people have found out that we are going to nationals and they want try it, too, so hopefully it spreads," Mays said. "A lot of times I say something like, 'Oh, you probably have seen it in the Olympics,' and they know it from there. I say that it's super fun and laid back and you get free pizza at the end (referring to pizza given to kids at the end of Saturday practices), so that's a big thing."

Another member of the ECC that is going to nationals is Marty Hill. Hill is a senior at Central Catholic and will be leading a team at nationals with three boys from the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club.

"This is my fourth year. I started at the beginning of eighth grade. I've curled all through high school," Hill said. "It's pretty beginner-friendly. You can come out here and come to junior practices because they are really fun. They will teach you how to curl and you'll probably enjoy it. There is a lot more than just throwing stones; it's pretty surprising how fun it is."

Irvin explained the process of getting to U18 nationals through United States Curling Association, the national governing body of curling in the United States.

"USA Curling grants one berth at U18 Nationals per USA Curling region. Mountain Pacific (MOPAC) is our region," Irvin said. "The qualifying process for MOPAC involves a written application of the curlers' experiences and accomplishments as curlers. A MOPAC competition committee then selects the best application."

Last year was the first time ECC sent juniors to nationals, with the Whirlies taking ninth out of 12 teams and the boys team with Hill finishing 10th out of 12.

"I hope we do better than last year. We beat one team last year and were really competitive with almost all the other teams; we just fell short in the last couple ends," said Horten, the leader (also known as “skip”) on this year’s team. "I just hope we can be a little bit more consistent, try to turn those close losses into wins this year."

Added Mays:

"I think last year was a little bit of shock, seeing all these people who are so intense, so competitive, and cold. I think we're going to try and be more fun so they are forced to open up to us. Do better personally, improve more -- it's important to me."

ECC junior practices are held Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. Curlers of all abilities are welcome.

Those interested in learning more about the junior curling program at ECC can contact the club at 503-430-0910 or visit evergreencurling.org.

"Curling is really fun,” Horten said. “Anyone that wants to do it should."