Bill Stopera

William Stopera (born August 13, 1968) is an American curler from Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Bill Stopera
Curler
Born (1968-08-13) August 13, 1968
Schenectady, New York
Team
Curling clubArdlsey CC,
Irvington, NY
SkipCraig Brown
ThirdBill Stopera
SecondDean Gemmell
LeadMark Lazar
Career
World Championship
appearances		1 (2012)
Medal record
Men's curling
Representing New York
United States Men's Curling Championship
2012 PhiladelphiaTeam
United States Olympic Curling Trials
2013 FargoTeam

Career

Stopera began curling at the Schenectady Curling Club in 1977 as a junior in Schenectady, New York.

In 2009, Stopera teamed up with Matt Hames, Martin Sather, and Dean Gemmell, and finished 4th at the 2010 United States Men's Curling Championship. The next year, Heath McCormick joined the team, replacing Matt Hames, who retired as skip. That year Stopera and the team competed in the 2011 United States Men's Curling Championship, finishing fourth after a playoff loss to Todd Birr.[1]

Stopera returned with the team the next year to play in the 2012 nationals and went through the round robin undefeated, eventually securing their first national title[1] with a win over defending champion Pete Fenson.[2] The team finished the event at 12–0. After winning the National Championship, the team played in the 2012 World Men's Curling Championship in Basel, Switzerland.[3] The team finished 8th[1] with a record of 4–7.

In 2013, Stopera competed with team North America and won the Continental Cup of Curling.[1] He also competed in the 2013 US Men's National Championship and finished fourth[1] after a playoff loss to eventual winner Brady Clark. The following season at the 2013 Olympic Trials, the team finished in 3rd place with a 4–4 record. McCormick left team midway through the 2013–14 season, and Tyler George was brought on to skip. The George rink played in the 2014 United States Men's Curling Championship, finishing with a 4–5 record. After the season, George left the team and was replaced with Gemmell as skip, with Sather playing lead and new addition Calvin Weber at second. Midway through the season, Mark Lazar was brought on to play lead and replace Calvin Weber, moving Martin Sather to second. The team qualified for the 2015 United States Men's Curling Championship where they finished 5th after losing in a tie-breaker. At the end of the 2015, Stopera went to the 2015 United States Club Men's Championship in Fargo, North Dakota with his son Andrew, Peter Austin and George Austin. There, the team won the bronze medal with a 7–5 record.

For the 2015-2016 curling season, Heath McCormick returned to the team as skip with Dean Gemmell moving back to second and Martin Sather leaving to form a new team. The rink retained Mark Lazar at lead and added Andrew Stopera as its alternate. Stopera and team qualified for the 2016 United States Men's Curling Championship in Jacksonville, Florida where they had a poor showing, coming in 10th place. Later in the year, Stopera returned to the Club National Championships, this time with Martin Sather replacing his son Andrew at skip. Despite losing second Peter Austin to a torn abdominal muscle he suffered while sweeping in the middle of the competition, Stopera and his 3-man team won the championship, defeating Illinois in the final.

Personal life

Stopera grew up in Schenectady, New York, and studied at Northeastern University. He works as an insurance broker with Professional Group Marketing. He is married and has two children, Megan and Andrew.

Teams
Season Skip Third Second Lead Events
2009–10 Matt HamesBill StoperaMartin SatherDean Gemmell2010 USNCC
2010–11 Heath McCormickBill StoperaMartin SatherDean Gemmell2011 USNCC
2011–12 Heath McCormickBill StoperaMartin SatherDean Gemmell2012 USNCC, 2012 WCC
2012–13 Heath McCormickBill StoperaMartin SatherDean Gemmell2013 USNCC
2013–14 Heath McCormickBill StoperaDean GemmellMartin Sather2013 USOCT
Tyler GeorgeBill StoperaDean GemmellMartin Sather2014 USNCC
2014–15 Dean GemmellBill StoperaMartin SatherMark Lazar2015 USNCC
2015–16 Heath McCormickBill StoperaDean GemmellMark Lazar2016 USNCC
2016–17 Bill StoperaDean GemmellMark Lazar

Statistics
Year Team Position Event Finish Record Pct.[lower-alpha 1]
2010 Hames Third 2010 USNCC 4th 6–5 –
2011 McCormick Third 2011 USNCC 4th 6–4 –
2012 McCormick Third 2012 USNCC 1st 12–0 –
2012 McCormick Third 2012 WCC 8th 4–7 –
2013 McCormick Third 2013 USNCC 4th 7–5 78.0 [4]
2013 McCormick Third 2013 USOCT 3rd 4–4 78.0 [5]
2014 George Third 2014 USNCC 6th 4–5 81.8 [6]
2015 Gemmell Third 2015 USNCC 5th 5–6 76.1 [7]
2015 Stopera Third 2015 USCNCC 3rd 7–5 –
2016 McCormick Third 2016 USNCC 10th 1–8 71.3 [8]
2016 Sather Third 2016 USCNCC 1st 8–3 –
United States Men's Curling Championships 41–33 –

Notes
  1. Round robin only

References
  1. "Stopera, Bill". United States Curling Association. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. USA Today. "Holcomb and Langton win two-man bobsled title, earn honors". February 20, 2012. Retrieved on June 1, 2013.
  3. Stallone, Gina. "Curling: World championships await duo from Briarclff, Hastings". The Journal News (Lower Hudson Valley, N.Y.), March 6, 2012. Retrieved on June 1, 2013.
  4. http://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=3012&eventtypeid=81&view=Shooting Retrieved on February 19, 2016.
  5. http://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=3108&eventtypeid=81&view=Shooting Retrieved on February 19, 2016.
  6. http://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=3379&eventtypeid=81&view=Shooting Retrieved on February 19, 2016.
  7. http://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=3754&eventtypeid=81&view=Shooting Retrieved on February 19, 2016.
  8. https://curlingzone.com/event.php?eventid=4185&eventtypeid=81&view=Shooting Retrieved on February 19, 2016.
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