Week 4 Competitors

Former PWBA star Terrell found a career path through collegiate bowling

For Kim Terrell of Antioch, Calif., collegiate bowling was the springboard to a successful professional career that included nine titles, but it was an opportunity that she almost let pass her by.

Terrell was the product of a very successful youth bowling program in the San Francisco area and followed her sister Sandy to San Jose State University an hour away. In Terrell's freshman year, the team did not qualify for the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships (now the Intercollegiate Team Championships), but since the since event was in San Jose that year, the group helped greet the qualifying teams at the airport.

"I remember it was a little humiliating, but it really motivated us and inspired us to make it the next year," said Terrell, who is now the United States Bowling Congress Collegiate spokesperson. "Having played a lot of sports in high school, I was grateful that I had so much experience as an athlete, but sometimes we didn't take bowling as seriously as we should have. I decided to practice hard and work out and put in the same effort the other athletes did. It definitely paid off and I became better and better."

Despite her improvement and excellent coaching at San Jose State, Terrell contemplated transferring and giving up bowling because the school did not have her major and becoming a physical therapist took precedence over bowling.

It didn't take long for her teammates and coaches to talk her into staying for three more years, which gave her an opportunity to further hone her skills. In 1985, Terrell went to Japan as part of a collegiate all-star team from California and later earned a spot on Team USA for 1987 and '88

"Doors kept opening one after another, and all of a sudden there was a whole new world in front of me," Terrell said. "I left college with no intentions of bowling professionally, but when I didn't make Team USA again, I decided to give the pro tour a try."

Although the move from team bowling in college to individual play as a pro was difficult, her time bowling singles events on Team USA helped ease the transition. She found immediate success in the Professional Women's Bowling Association, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1989.

After a 15-year career that included wins at the U.S. Open and USBC Queens, Terrell is now content sharing her knowledge as a coach and spokesperson. Part of her time is spent as an assistant coach for Junior Team USA.

"I love coaching, and ideally I'd really like to coach in college someday because I definitely feel like that experience shaped my life," Terrell said. "Any hand I could have in helping someone else have that same experience would be great. But for now, I get to see young players develop with Junior Team USA and enjoy sharing my story as the Collegiate spokesperson."

Former pro and Team USA member Gaines still making a name for herself in the bowling industry

Kendra Gaines of Orlando, Fla., competed in the Professional Women's Bowling Association for six years, and despite a win in just her fourth event, it wasn't until the end of her time on tour that she finally figured out how to be successful out there. And then it was over.

The PWBA only had enough money to last four events during its final swing in 2003, and the sudden end left Gaines at a career crossroad. She'd left school to concentrate on Team USA and then left Team USA to join the PWBA.

"There were a lot of questions at that point," said Gaines, a four-time member of Team USA and a two-time PWBA titlist. "Bowling had been my life for 10 years and I didn't have another job. I was very fortunate that I made some money the last few years on tour, so I was okay for a while."

Gaines, now 33, turned to the experience she gained while working in a pro shop during her Team USA days, and with help from her husband, John, who worked for Kegel at the time and now works for Ebonite International, she was able to build a small pro shop empire in the Orlando area.

This summer she sold her three shops to BowlingBall.com and now is the company's lead coaching instructor and one of its regional pro shop managers. She also is an assistant coach for USBC Junior Team USA, so bowling continues to be a major part of her life.

"I was so busy early on that I didn't have much time to miss the tour, but now I really miss the competition and the social aspect," Gaines said. "I'm still so wrapped up in bowling, but people are always asking me when the tour is coming back, which makes me miss it more. It's a good thing that people still ask though because that means they still want to see us on TV."

Colombia's Guerrero adds international flavor To USBC Women's Challenge

When Gary Beck of Killer 'B' Promotions chose the field of 16 competitors for the United States Bowling Congress Women's Challenge, he was looking to assemble the most diverse, talented and marketable group he could to help showcase women's bowling.

The event features an eclectic mix of youth, experience and success at all levels. Colombia's Clara Guerrero joins her country mate Sara Vargas, Canada's Robin Orlikowski and Australia's Cara Honeychurch to give the competition some international flavor.

And while she may be one of the younger competitors at the Women's Challenge, Guerrero has made a worldwide name for herself in recent years. She burst on to the international bowling scene in 1999 and success has followed her ever since as a member of the Colombian national team.

In 2000, the young right-hander finished second at the AMF World Cup and went on to be named the World Amateur Player of the Year by the World Bowling Writers.

Colombian national titles in 2002 and 2004 helped prepare her for a breakout year in 2005. Not only did she retain her spot on Team Colombia, she also won the World Ranking Masters in Lake Wales, Fla., and led her Wichita State University squad to a national title at the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. It was a record seventh national championship for the bowling powerhouse.

"College bowling was an important step for me, and bowling around the world in different formats and venues has made me a much better bowler," said Guerrero, a two-time All-American at Wichita State. "If there was a pro tour for women I'd probably give it a try, but for now I am happy with what I'm doing."

In her first round match at the Women's Challenge, Guerrero will face Team USA's Stefanie Nation, another young standout she has competed against many times during the past few years. Nation claimed three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles and went on to star for the University of Central Florida, earning Collegiate Player of the Year honors for the 2005-06 season.

"It's an honor to be part of this event and help represent women's bowling like this, whether I win or not," Guerrero said. "Bowling has become such a big part of my life, and this is just another experience I will never forget."

Nation ready for life beyond college and Junior Team USA

Not too long ago, Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla., won her third consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur title and was on top of the junior bowling world. She also was one of the best collegiate players in the country.

But within the last few months, Nation saw her college career come to an end with Player of the Year honors, while her time on the Junior Team USA ended with bronze medals in singles and Masters at the World Youth Championships in Berlin, Germany.

If this were 10 years ago, Nation would be headed for a promising professional career, but with the absence of a pro tour for women, her future on the lanes is uncertain. For now, she will keep her spot on the adult Team USA and hope that the women's tour is revived someday.

"I loved bowling in college and I've enjoyed my time on Team USA, but it's a little upsetting that there's no next step," Nation said. "I feel like I've done so much already and I'm grateful, but what's next? I'm glad I went out on good notes with the Player of the Year and bronze medals, but now I'm just ready for more."

Nation's days are now spent working toward a master's degree in Communications, but she's also holding a full-time job as an events coordinator at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando. In her free time, she assists her former University of Central Florida coach Pat Costello with her coaching duties.

"I don't know what the future holds for me, but I am enjoying the opportunities that have come my way," Nation said. "My new role with the team has been interesting because it's not easy going from a player one day to a coach the next. It will take a lot of time for me to get used to it and for them to get used to me."

Nation has embraced her role, though, and hopes to draw on her own past experiences to help guide the Knights.

"Coaching is a good avenue to pursue because I enjoy helping people," Nation said. "I remember the people who helped me get better and get where I am today, and I would like to do the same for others."