Amy Becher

Amy Becher
Curler
Born (1978-05-24) May 24, 1978 (age 46)
Omaha, Nebraska
Curling career
World Championship
appearances		1 (2000)
Medal record
Women's curling
Representing  Nebraska
United States Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2000 Ogden
Silver medal – second place 1999 Duluth

Amy Becher (born May 24, 1978) is an American curler from Omaha, Nebraska.[1] In 2000, she won the United States Women's Curling Championship as vice-skip on Amy Wright's team. They went on to represent the United States at the 2000 World Women's Curling Championship.

Curling career

Becher competed at her first junior national championship in 1994, finishing last. She returned to junior nationals in 1995 and finished fourth.[1] Becher again improved her results at the 1996 Junior Nationals, winning the championship as skip of her own team. As Team USA at the 1996 World Junior Curling Championships they finished last with a 0–9 record. In 1997 Becher joined Risa O'Connell's team at third, defended her junior national title and improved her World Juniors result by finished in fourth place at the 1997 World Juniors. She returned to the World Junior Championships a third time in 1999, as alternate on Hope Schmitt's team.

Upon moving from juniors to women's curling, Becher joined Amy Wright's team at third and found success quickly. At her first Women's National Championship in 1999, Team Wright took the silver medal when they lost to Patti Lank in the final. They again faced Team Lank in the final of the 2000 Women's Championship, this time winning with a final score of 12–9. As national champions, Becher and Team Wright earned a spot at the 2000 World Women's Championship as well as an opportunity to compete at the 2001 United States Olympic Curling Trials. At World's, they finished in a three-way tie for sixth place with a 4–5 record. During the 2001 Olympic Trials Wright felt she was not playing good enough and stepped aside, allowing Becher to take over skipping duties.[2] Despite the change in line-up, they finished in a three-way tie for last place with a 3–7 record.

Personal life

Becher's parents would bring her along to the curling club when she was young. She started curling competitively through the Ak-Sar-Ben Curling Club's juniors program.[1]

Becher graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a double major in chemistry and teaching.[1]

Awards

  • USA Curling Team of the Year 1997[3]

Teams

Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Coach Events
1995–96 Amy Becher Theresa Faltesek Monica Carlson Heather Miller Stacey Liapis
(WJCC)		 1996 USJCC 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1996 WJCC (10th)[4]
1996–97 Risa O'Connell Amy Becher Natalie Simenson Missi O'Connell Jennifer Herning
(WJCC)		 1997 USJCC 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1997 WJCC (4th)[5]
1997–98 Laura Delaney Amy Becher Carrie Ward Becky Nelson Jodi Armstrong 1998 USJCC (SF)[6][7]
1998–99 Amy Wright Amy Becher Natalie Simenson Joni Cotten 1999 USWCC 2nd place, silver medalist(s)[8]
Hope Schmitt Nikki Baird Katlyn Schmitt Teresa Bahr Amy Becher Scott Baird 1999 WJCC (6th)[9]
1999–00 Amy Wright Amy Becher Joni Cotten Natalie Simenson Corina Marquardt Bob Fenson 2000 USWCC 1st place, gold medalist(s)[10]
2000 WWCC (6th)[11]
2000–01 Amy Wright Amy Becher Nikki Baird Natalie Nicholson Joni Cotten Bob Fenson 2001 USWCC (SF)[12]
2001–02 Amy Wright Amy Becher Natalie Nicholson Nikki Baird Joni Cotten Bob Fenson 2001 USOCT (4th)[13][14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Amy Becher". USA Curling. Archived from the original on Apr 2, 2003. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Erickson leads curling trials". Desert News. Dec 13, 2001. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "USA Curling Team of the Year". 2011-12 USA Curling Media Guide & Directory. Aug 25, 2011. p. 134. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "Kärcher World Junior Curling Championships 1996". World Curling Federation. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Coca-Cola World Junior Curling Championships 1997". World Curling Federation. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Junior Women Teams". 1998 USCA Junior National Championships. Archived from the original on Feb 20, 1999. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Curling". The La Crosse Tribune. Feb 17, 1998. p. 9. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Lank, Somerville teams win USA Curling Nationals". USA Curling. Mar 6, 1999. Archived from the original on Oct 13, 1999. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "STAR CHOICE World Junior Curling Championships 1999". World Curling Federation. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Wright's team has the right stuff this time around". USA Curling. Mar 11, 2000. Archived from the original on Apr 11, 2001. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Ford World Curling Championships 2000". World Curling Federation. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "USA Women's Team Members". Madison Curling Club. Archived from the original on Apr 23, 2001. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Teams". USA Curling. Archived from the original on Jun 4, 2002. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Team Somerville wins U.S. men's Olympic curling berth". USA Curling. Dec 15, 2001. Archived from the original on Dec 18, 2002. Retrieved Mar 25, 2021.