This morning Korey & Cory take on team Italy in the Semi Finals at the 2026 Olympics Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals.
End 1
Italy put up 2.
End 2
USA put up 2. ( I showed up late so didn’t start the play by play till the 3rd. Sorry 🙈 )
End 3
USA Set up the end where they looked like they were going to steal 1, but Italy wrapped up the end with a beautiful draw for 2. 4-2 Italy at the end of the third.
End 4
A couple beautiful draws by USA and a couple big whiffs by Italy led to a really tight scoring area going into the last two stones. USA with hammer sitting right on the button launches an absolute PISS MISSLE to move all of the red stones out of play in a crazy double run back.
It brought USA up to sitting two but didn’t play out exactly as the called it.
Italy’s last shot of the end is a draw to the button that clips their guard leaving it open for the USA to shoot for 3.
A perfect draw by Cory Thiesse lands use the 3 bringing it 5-4 USA at the mid game break.
End 5
Cory Thiesse opens the end up with another perfect draw right to the button.
Italy’s opening shot is a little heavier than they probably wanted. Tried to freeze to the first shot and it bounced out a little too much.
Dropkin drops a stone right on the button sitting them 2 for Team USA.
Italy misses again with a bit too heavy draw sending their shooter out when they needed it to stick around.
Technical timeout due to an issue with the Hog Line sensor on the rock. Dropkin called in for a line judge just so there’s no question. He lined up 3 stones across the button perfectly.
Italy came in hot with a double peel. Cleared some of the house out.
Dropkin coming in with another draw to freeze down to their own right on the button. Gave it a little tap but not enough for a Italy to get around.
Italy woofed a hit again. He didn’t even chase it to sweep. He knew the moment he let go that it missed.
Cory Thiesse places a guard right in front of their two in the house. Italy can probably get a run back or take the draw to get 1. Either a really perfect draw or a really long run back.
Italy’s Constantini going for the draw, and nails it for 1 point.
5-5 at the end of the 5th.
End 6
Italy opens with a draw to the back of the 4 foot.
USA Follows them in with a draw to the button.
Italy draws in and it comes in a little wide but is sitting shot just on the edge of the button.
Korey Dropkin going for a big double. Nails it and saves the shooter. USA sitting 2 right now.
Italy draws in to top of the button just barely biting for shot rock.
USA went for another hit and moved some stones around in the back of the house. Not really sure if that’s what they were going for or not.
Italy runs their front red up onto the button.
Korey finishes his stones with a down weight hit to move Italy’s shot rock out. It opened things up but Italy is still sitting shot.
Italy finishes their stones with a draw that didn’t have enough weight to get to the button. Pretty high on the 8 foot.
USA attempting a run back for 2, maybe 3 points. Thiesse nails it for 2 points!
7-5 USA at the end of the 6th
End 7
Italy has hammer and is using their power play here.
Cory Thiesse opens the end with a light hit to bounce their “pushed to the side” guard back into the center, landing it in the house.
Italy draws around the other way trying to tuck behind USA’s stone and gets a little tap.
Korey Dropkin starts his stones with a draw into the button. Lands T-line deep on the right edge.
Italy replaces that last stone with their own.
Dropkin went for a hit, didn’t work the way they thought it would. Still sitting one. Korey accidentally grazed one of the moving stones with his heel and let the Italians know. They agreed it didn’t influence it at all.
Italy came in with a hit and are now sitting 3.
Korey Dropkin coming in with a double and missed it a little wide. Took Italy down to sitting 2 when they were hoping for only 1.
Italy coming back with a draw to sit 3 again. basically splitting the whole house straight across the T-line.
Cory Thiesse going for a draw to hopefully get a tap and roll. Got the hit but it’s wide open leaving a chance for Italy to get 3.
Italy has the open hit for 3. Nails it.
8-7 Italy at the end of the 7th.
End 8
USA Is using their power play, has hammer, and needs 2 to win.
Italy opens up with an in-turn freeze to try to freeze to the sidelined yellow. Slides right past it after not curling as far as it needed to.
Cory Theisse draws to the same to get the little tap on the red in the house, rolling out towards the back of the 4 foot.
Italy going for the same draw / freeze to the sidelined yellow. Too heavy and goes right through the hole. FIELD GOAL! 🏈Big miss for Italy.
Dropkin follows up with a draw to the other end of the 4ft. A little heavy and ended up in the back 8ft.
Italy was going for a double but only got a single takeout and roll to freeze on the back of the 4ft.
Dropkin draws to get a little bump and gets the tiniest little tap that probably pushes it out. USA Sitting 2nd, 3rd & 4th rock after that little kiss.
Italy drawing trying to freeze on a back yellow stone. A touch heavy but landed where they wanted to.
USA Takes their timeout and calls Cathy Overton Clapham to the field for some strategy advice.
Dropkin’s last rock of regulation is a big hit gets a double and now USA are sitting 2 with just the last rocks to go on each team.
Italy takes their timeout.
Italy’s last rock of regulation going for a hit and roll onto the button. Gets the hit but not the roll. Italy doesn’t look like they like it.
USA’s last rock should be a simple hit for 2 and the win. Nails it!!
USA HAS IT! They’re going to the final against Sweden! We’re bringing home at LEAST Silver
🥌🇺🇸🥌🇺🇸🥌🇺🇸🥌🇺🇸
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