By Emily Goddard

Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick, Jessica Schultz and Ann Swisshelm have become the first athletes nominated to the American team for Sochi 2014 ©United States Olympic CommitteeNovember 17 - Curlers Erika Brown, Debbie McCormick, Jessica Schultz and Ann Swisshelm have become the first athletes nominated to the American team for the Sochi 2014 Olympics after winning the team trials.

The squad beat Vancouver 2010 Olympian Allison Pottinger's rink 8-7 to win the playoffs at the Scheels Arena in North Dakota.

The teams were tied at 7-7 after nine of 10 ends, but it was Brown who converted on the final throw to score the decisive point as the rock settled.

"We all wanted to get back there, that's for sure," said Brown, vice-skip at Nagano 1998.

"Everyone played so great all week, but the last three games we really played the best we could when we needed to."

McCormick is already a three-time Olympian, while Sochi 2014 will be the second Olympic appearance for both Schultz and Swisshelm.

Debbie McCormick, pictured here at Vancouver 2010, is already a three-time Olympian ©Getty ImagesDebbie McCormick, pictured here at Vancouver 2010, is already a three-time
Olympian ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, it was Turin 2006 Olympic bronze medallist John Shuster's team that won the men's event.

Shuster and teammates Jeff Isaacson, Jared Zezel and John Landsteiner defeated Pete Fenson's squad 11-1 in four ends to book their place at the Olympic qualification event, taking place in Füssen, Germany on December 10 until 15, where they will face seven other countries all vying for the final two berths at Sochi 2014.

"It was like a funeral in here," Shuster said about the silence when his opponents conceded the match after four ends.

"Believe me, I'd much rather win that way than an extra end.

"It was pretty sweet.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, but we have more work ahead of us."

John Shuster and teammates Jeff Isaacson, Jared Zezel and John Landsteiner will now head to Germany to compete for a place at Sochi 2014 ©Rich HarmerJohn Shuster and teammates Jeff Isaacson, Jared Zezel and John Landsteiner will now head to Germany to compete for a place at Sochi 2014 ©Rich Harmer

Isaacson, who won gold at the Turin 2007 Universiade alongside Shuster, added: "We won in Denver four years ago and to have the opportunity to play in the Trials final once is incredible and to win it is even better.

"To come back, there are so many teams that want this so bad and we made it to the finals again.

"To win is just incredible.

"I don't know how else you can say it.

"I'm very honoured to have the chance to play and certainly with this team the guys have worked so hard.

"It's an incredible experience and I'm very happy."

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