Paul Pustovar

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Paul Pustovar
Curler
Born (1951-12-17) December 17, 1951 (age 72)
Chisholm, Minnesota
Team
Curling clubHibbing CC, Hibbing, Minnesota
SkipPaul Pustovar
ThirdNick Myers
SecondAndy Jukich
LeadJeff Puleo
Curling career
World Championship
appearances		6 (1977, 1980, 1984, 1991, 1998, 2002)
Medal record
Curling
Representing  United States
World Curling Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1977 Karlstad
Team
Bronze medal – third place
1991 Winnipeg
Team
United States Men's Curling Championship
Gold medal – first place 1977 Northbrook Team
Gold medal – first place 1980 Bemidji Team
Gold medal – first place 1991 Utica Team
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bismarck Team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Eveleth Team
Silver medal – second place 1982 Brookline Team
Silver medal – second place 1992 Grafton Team
Silver medal – second place 1995 Appleton Team
Silver medal – second place 2000 Ogden Team
World Senior Curling Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Chelyabinsk Team
Silver medal – second place 2009 Dunedin Team
United States Olympic Curling Trials
Bronze medal – third place
2009 Broomfield
 Team

Paul Pustovar (born December 17, 1951, in Chisholm, Minnesota) is an American curler from Hibbing, Minnesota. He is one of the most prolific curlers from the United States, with over thirty years of experience. He has earned two bronze medals at the World Curling Championships and has earned five gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal in the twenty-five national championships that he has participated in. He is also a former world senior champion.

Early life

Pustovar studied at the

Hibbing Community College
and created and taught a curling course at the community college.

Career

1970s–1980s

Pustovar began curling in 1969. As third under Bruce Roberts he became the Minnesota state men's champion in 1977, and went on to win the nationals and earn a spot in the 1977 Air Canada Silver Broom, where the Americans placed fourth. Pustovar was named the All-Star Vice Skip at the 1977 Air Canada Silver Broom. He continued to be a major force in Minnesota, winning the state championships in 1980, 1982, and 1987. He became the national champion in 1980 and finished fourth in the 1980 World Championship. He made appearances at the 1985 United States Mixed Nationals and the 1982 and 1987 United States National Championships.

1990s–2005

Pustovar continued his success in curling through the end of the century. He participated in various national and international events and won many of those events. He was the Wisconsin state men's champion in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2001. He earned various trophies, including the Remo Trophy in 1991, the Wettinger Nokia Trophy in 1994 and 1996, and the Movado Trophy in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003. In the 2000–01 curling season, he won eight events, which was a major achievement for him. He participated in the

Karuizawa International Curling Championship
, where he won the bonspiel title.

2006–present

In 2006, Pustovar turned 50 and was allowed to participate in senior curling events. He has participated in every

challenge round. There, he and his team finished third, earning them a berth in the nationals. However, Pustovar was not able to participate in the nationals, so he sat out as the alternate while Hamilton took over skipping duties. They finished seventh with a 3–6 win–loss record. In 2012, Pustovar and a new team played in the Green Bay Qualifier, but placed fourth and missed the cutoff. However, he earned a spot in the challenge round
through his Order of Merit ranking, and finished sixth, failing to qualify for the nationals. In 2014 (Nationals in Aston, PA) and 2015 (Nationals in Kalamazoo, MI), with new teams for each event, he also qualified for the nationals via the challenge round.

Coaching career

Pustovar is a certified Level II curling instructor and coach. He has coached many curling teams throughout his career, including the 1979 Minnesota Junior Men's Champions at the Junior National Championships. He was the coach of the Todd Birr rink at the

2007 Ford World Men's Curling Championship
, where the United States won a bronze medal.

Personal life

Pustovar is a self-employed insurance agent with the C.R. Pustovar Insurance Agency in Hibbing, MN. He is married to Carole and has two sons, Scott and Ryan, and three grandchildren, Alex, Taylor, and Tanner. Pustovar is an avid bicycler and has led bicycle tours in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He also enjoys fishing and traveling.

Teammates

Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Events
1976–77 Bruce Roberts Paul Pustovar Jerry Scott Gary Kleffman 1977
1977 WMCC
1979–80 Paul Pustovar John Jankila Gary Kleffman Jerry Scott 1980 USMCC,
1980 WMCC
1990–91 Steve Brown Paul Pustovar George Godfrey Wally Henry Mike Fraboni 1991 USMCC, 1991 WMCC
1996–97 Steve Brown Dave Violette Richard Maskel Paul Pustovar
1997–98 Paul Pustovar Dave Violette Greg Wilson Cory Ward Shawn Rojeski 1998 USMCC, 1998 WMCC
1998–99 Paul Pustovar Dave Violette Greg Wilson Mike Peplinski
1999–00 Paul Pustovar Dave Violette Mike Peplinski Cory Ward
2001–02 Paul Pustovar Mike Fraboni Geoff Goodland Richard Maskel 2002 USMCC, 2002 WMCC
2007–08 Todd Birr Bill Todhunter Greg Johnson Kevin Birr Paul Pustovar 2008 USMCC
2008–09 Paul Pustovar Brian Simonson Tom Harms Don Mohawk 2009 WSCC
2009–10 Paul Pustovar Brian Simonson Tom Harms Don Mohawk 2010 WSCC
2010–11 Paul Pustovar Jeremy Roe Matt Hamilton Patrick Roe 2011 USMCC
2011–12 Paul Pustovar Nick Myers Andy Jukich Jeff Puleo
2012–13 Paul Pustovar Brian Simonson John Kokotovich Don Mohawk

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b "Pustovar, Sugahara elected to Hall of Fame". Universal Sports. 29 October 2009.
  2. ^ "USCA Hall of Fame".

External links

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