NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. - Eight Sitrin STARS (Success Through Adaptive Recreation and Sports) athletes will participate in the third annual U.S. Open International Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel to be held November 20 – 22, at the Utica Curling Club, located on Clark Mills Road in Whitesboro.

Four teams from Canada and the United States will be taking part in the international contest. This is one of the last formal competitions for members of Team USA before the 2010 Paralympics, to be held in March in Vancouver, B.C.

Sitrin STARS athletes participating in this weekend’s bonspiel include:

*Tammy Delano of Rome, New York
*James Joseph of New Hartford, New York (Paralympian)
*Jacqui Kapinowski of Point Pleasant, New Jersey (Paralympian)
*Patrick McDonald of Orangevale, California (Paralympian)
*Augusto Perez of East Syracuse, New York (Paralympian)
*James Pierce of North Syracuse, New York (Paralympian)
*John Powell of Dallas, Texas
*Bob Prenoveau of Chittenango, New York

Sitrin’s STARS athletes practice regularly at the Utica Curling Club, which has been an active supporter of the STARS wheelchair curling program and its athletes since its inception.