Eau Claire’s Team Hebert repeats as junior national curling champions
· Yahoo Sports
The wins keep coming for Eau Claire Curling Club’s Team Hebert.
A month after winning gold at the 2026 Junior World Curling Championships, Team Hebert claimed gold yet again, this time at the USA Curling Junior U20 National Championships on April 4 in Bismarck, North Dakota.
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Team Hebert, made up of Caden Hebert, Jack Wendtland, Benji Paral and Jackson Bestland, took home the national crown for the second year in a row, defeating Team Grabow in the championship game 5-2.
With the win, Team Hebert will represent the U.S. at the 2027 World Junior Curling Championships.
“Being back to back champions feels amazing, but there is also a sense of relief that we get to defend our world championship next February,” Team Hebert coach Mike Peplinski said.
“It’s incredible, it’s not something that felt easy to do,” Hebert said. “Every team was there to beat us, it felt like. We got everyone’s best game.
“To bring our team back to worlds and to have a world championship to look forward to is incredible.”
“It feels amazing to be back-to-back national champions and to have the opportunity to represent the United States once again at the world stage,” Paral said.
“This was a good check off the board but the bigger focus is preparing for the world championship next year,” Wendtland said.
“Going back-to-back is weird because the first time felt way more exciting because everything led up to that, and the second time was almost more of a relief (with) no more pressure,” Bestland said.
After winning two silvers at previous national junior championships, Team Hebert has been on winning form since claiming its first taste of junior national gold last year.
The team also won the 2025 World Junior-B Championships, took home a silver at the 2025 World University Games and competed at the 2025 Olympic Trials last November.
The cherry on top, of course, was winning in the world juniors in February.
Paral also won the Junior Mixed Doubles National Championship last month alongside teammate Ella Wendling.
Heading into Bismarck, the team felt the weight of expectations.
“We didn't put that much pressure on ourselves leading up to the event but when we were out on the ice I definitely felt it,” Hebert said.
It took a while, but Team Hebert eventually found their championship groove, only losing one match on the way to the title.
“The team knew our week would be difficult with lots of good teams,” Peplinski said. “While our focus was on being the best ‘us’ we could be, we couldn’t quite find our best gear until later in the week.”
“I think we all felt a little worn out going into nationals,” Bestland said. “It took us a couple games to get back into our true form, but we just kept getting better and better.”
“By the time we got to the playoffs we were ready for anyone,” Wendtland said.
The 2027 World Junior Curling Championships will look a little different for Team Hebert, as the tournament will expand to 16 teams per gender.
Yet, Team Hebert is confident coming off its performance this year.
“While the goal next season will be to repeat, we also want to grow as a team and work to become one of the best teams in the world regardless of age,” Peplinski said.
“Our goal will be to get better and see where that takes us,” Hebert said. “But, yes I believe our best can take another world championship.”
“We look to continue that growth as a team into the junior world championships next year and hopefully bigger tournaments in the future,” Paral said.