SURSEE – The United States scored its first podium finish in its wheelchair curling history by winning bronze at the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

Skip Augusto Perez hammered Canada's Gerry Austgarden 8-1 to earn the first-ever American wheelchair curling hardware. The American curlers screamed and hugged as their coaches and fans streamed onto the ice.

"Holy cow," Perez declared. "This is totally amazing.

"I've had a rough week. For some reason I was off all week, and I promised the guys I would pull it off today. And I finally made a few good shots."

After a cautious start, the U.S. team scored two for a 4-1 lead after four ends of play. In the fifth end, facing serious trouble, Canadian fourth-rock thrower Darryl Neighbour made a brilliant tap and roll behind cover on his first stone. But Perez was up to the task, and made an angle-runback to lie four. Neighbour then missed his draw for one and the States stole four.

"(My team) pulled it out while I was shooting real bad," said Perez. "They're the reason we were here today."

Perez was supported by teammates Jim Pierce, Jimmy Joseph, Jacqui Kapinowski and Bob Prenoveau. 

Canada equalled last year's fourth-place finish, but with an entirely new team lineup. Three members of Canada's 2006 Paralympic champion squad remain – Austgarden, Gary Cormack and Sonja Gaudet – but with two newcomers, Neighbour and Ina Forrest.

It marked Austgarden's first world championship at skip position, and the team regularly rotated their lineup through the week.

"We've been trying different combinations," said Austgarden. "We just need more time to play together. We need to learn about each player a little more."

Kapinowski hs only been curling – at any level – for four months. Joseph recruited her at a wheelchair racing event, and turned her on to her new ice sport.

"We have a new curler, she's only been playing a few months," said Perez.

"That's a warning shot for next year.

"Next year we win the silver, and then we get the gold in Vancouver."