Member Profile - Nathan Boswell

Parents spend years teaching their children about the world around them.  Nine-year-old Nathan Boswell is returning the favor by teaching his parents about what goes on in an important corner of his world — the Fort Wayne Curling Club ice.

Nathan spends Saturday mornings at the club’s Wells Street rink as part of the Junior Program, learning a game he took up about a year-and-a-half ago. Additionally, on Wednesday nights, he and three teammates — all relative novices — compete in the club’s Rookie League. Stacey and Tim Boswell are there to encourage Nathan and to become more familiar with the sport their son loves.

“Nathan’s a master sweeper,” Stacey says, with a certain note of parental pride in her voice. "We say he was born to sweep. He loves it. He says it keeps him warm on the ice, too, which is good.”

Nathan isn’t arguing with his mother. “On Wednesdays we play four ends and whoever wins, wins, and whoever loses, loses,” he says “Wednesday night is a mix of a few kids and mostly adults. It’s pretty exciting to have some competition.”

Rookie League teams are set by skill level, and Nathan’s mates include a fellow in his golden years. “Honestly, we like to say it’s a sport any age can play,” Stacey adds.

“First you have to have attended what they call a ‘Learn to Curl’ event or have been part of the Junior Program. so you have some basic knowledge of the game,” Stacey said of the criteria for entry into the Rookie League. “It’s for those beginning with, basically, no experience. Everyone's kind of starting on an even playing field, which is nice.

Nathan is the oldest of four Boswell siblings, and Stacey said curling might be a family sport for years to come.

Nathan very much appreciates his coaches — Tony and Craig.  They’re both members of the Curling Club who volunteer their time to help youngsters learn a traditional Scottish game played on ice but gaining recreational traction in the U.S.

“We originally heard about the Curling Club at a summer event downtown,” Stacey recalls. “Members had a booth set up and they were promoting the Junior Program coming up that fall. That's how Nathan heard about it and got interested. It was super affordable — which, as a parent, is awesome. We don't need to buy any equipment or anything. So, that was great. We said, ‘Let's give it a shot.’ Watching him and seeing all the kids having fun was pretty cool.”

Nathan is also a tennis player, so he already appreciates some of the fine points of curling.

“It’s a sport of luck, skill, — and math, with all the angles you play,” he said.

Stacey and Tim learned the basics of curling scoring from their son. “We had a whole lesson on the car ride home one time about how the scoreboard works because we didn’t quite understand. So, the kids are teaching us.”

Nathan is the oldest of four Boswell siblings, and Stacey staid curling might be a family sport for years to come.

“Our second isn’t yet quite eight, which is the starting age for the Junior Program,” Stacey summarized. “But we’ll have enough for a whole team once they’re old enough, which would be fun.”

“Team Boswell” on the ice every week? Mom and Dad might get chills just thinking about it.