Despite not gracing the screens of those in South County tuning into the 2026 Winter Olympics, Notre Dame High School alum Lauren Rich is a vital piece to this year’s games. 

Her role? A member of the ice crew for curling, a unique shuffleboard-like ice-based sport that has recently seen an uptick in popularity across the U.S.

As a member of the curling ice crew, Rich helps install and build the curling ice, then prepares each “sheet” before every session of men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events. This preparation process includes the task of “pebbling,” in which tiny droplets of water are sprayed across the surface of the ice to create a texture. Without the ice pebbles, the stone would not move.

These ice pebbles are also the reason for the sweeping aspect of the sport. By sweeping, and creating friction, the ice pebbles slightly melt, creating a tiny layer of water. The water not only helps further glide the stone, but also keeps it going straight towards the target, known in curling as the house.