Jo-Ann Rizzo

Jo-Ann Rizzo (born June 1, 1963 in Zweibrücken, West Germany)[3] is a Canadian curler from Brantford, Ontario.

Jo-Ann Rizzo
Curler
Born
Jo-Ann Vaters[1][2]

(1963-06-01) June 1, 1963
Zweibrücken, West Germany
Team
Curling clubBrantford G&CC,
Brantford, ON
SkipKerry Galusha
ThirdSarah Koltun
SecondJo-Ann Rizzo
LeadMargot Flemming
Career
Member Association Ontario (1988-2019)
 Northwest Territories (2020-present)
Hearts appearances1 (2020)
Top CTRS ranking3rd (2011–12)
Grand Slam victories1: Autumn Gold (2012)
Medal record
Women's curling
Representing  Ontario
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
2013 Winnipeg

Rizzo grew up in Germany, where her father was stationed in the military. She moved to Canada at age 16. She attended the University of Western Ontario where she won two Ontario University Athletics championships.[4]

As of 2013, Rizzo has played in 13 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts. She is also a former provincial mixed champion. She played third for her husband Nick Rizzo at the 2003 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, where they finished in 4th place.

Rizzo qualified for the 2005 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, where she and her rink of Cheryl McPherson, Kimberly Tuck and Sara Gatchell finished in 9th with a 2-7 record.

Rizzo is a former skip, but she joined up with Middaugh in 2010. With Middaugh, the team won the 2012 Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic and finished second at the 2013 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. The Middaugh rink dissolved in 2018.

Rizzo won two provincial senior curling championships in 2016 and 2017, finishing fourth at the 2016 Canadian Senior Curling Championships and second at the 2017 Canadian Senior Curling Championships. Rizzo also coached the US team at the 2017 World Senior Curling Championships.

Rizzo joined the Yellownife, Northwest Territories-based Kerry Galusha rink in 2019, first at second, but later throwing fourth stones for the team. The team won the 2020 Northwest Territories Scotties Tournament of Hearts, qualifying the Galusha rink for the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Rizzo's first Canadian women's championship appearance. At the Hearts, the team would not advance to the championship round after posting a 2-5 record in pool play.

Personal life

Jo-Ann and Nick have three children. She was inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition in 2018. Her uncle is well known icemaker Shorty Jenkins.

References
  1. "VATERS Kitty Gerda". 2020-01-08.
  2. Windsor Star, November 23, 1988, pg D3, "Bonspiel scheduled"
  3. "2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  4. "Three join sports hall". 2018-06-13.


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