Hall of famer Annese Dunleavy celebrates 50th USBC Women's Championships appearance
May 07, 2018
By Tony Contini and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Annese Dunleavy of Boynton Beach, Florida, added another impressive feat to her resume this week as she made her 50th USBC Women's Championships appearance.
The 68-year-old right-hander has won titles across the states and won gold medals for the United States. This week, at the National Bowling Stadium, she received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate her storied career at the USBC Women's Championships.
She began her tournament career at the 1967 event in Rochester, New York, at the age of 17, and she claimed a pair of titles at the 1978 event in Miami.
Dunleavy won the Classic Doubles title with Barbara Shelton of Jamaica, New York, and her overall performance helped her to the top spot in Classic All-Events.
Dunleavy's international record is equally impressive.
She won gold medals as part of Team USA in three consecutive decades, including a pair of gold medals in team and trios at the 1979 Federation Internationale des Quilleurs World Championships, now known as the World Bowling Women's Championships.
Dunleavy's passion for the sport started at an early age. At 8 years old, her uncle took her bowling for the first time, and she immediately loved the sport.
When she turned 16, her youth league pushed her to join the adult ranks, and she started bowling five nights a week. Her father died the same year, and bowling proved to be a way for her to support her mother.
"I'd go out bowling on a Friday night and come home Sunday morning with money in my pocket," Dunleavy said. "I was a teeny, tiny girl with big brown eyes, and I'd bowl for $20 per game. It's the way I made my living."
The sport has given her incredible opportunities to travel, support her family and make lifelong friendships.
"The camaraderie you have with bowlers is fantastic," Dunleavy said. "It didn't matter if you were a good or bad bowler. If you see them every day, every six months or every year, it's like it was just yesterday."
Her time in Reno also allowed her connect with some of those lifelong connections.
Her teammates this week at the NBS were by her side and supporting her when she was 16 years old.
"It's family to me," Dunleavy said. "There's something about the sport of bowling that makes friendships last forever. Bowling is community."
In her milestone appearance, Dunleavy put together sets of 526 in team, 489 in doubles and 471 in singles for a 1,486 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Annese Dunleavy of Boynton Beach, Florida, added another impressive feat to her resume this week as she made her 50th USBC Women's Championships appearance.
The 68-year-old right-hander has won titles across the states and won gold medals for the United States. This week, at the National Bowling Stadium, she received a plaque, chevron and necklace to commemorate her storied career at the USBC Women's Championships.
She began her tournament career at the 1967 event in Rochester, New York, at the age of 17, and she claimed a pair of titles at the 1978 event in Miami.
Dunleavy won the Classic Doubles title with Barbara Shelton of Jamaica, New York, and her overall performance helped her to the top spot in Classic All-Events.
Dunleavy's international record is equally impressive.
She won gold medals as part of Team USA in three consecutive decades, including a pair of gold medals in team and trios at the 1979 Federation Internationale des Quilleurs World Championships, now known as the World Bowling Women's Championships.
Dunleavy's passion for the sport started at an early age. At 8 years old, her uncle took her bowling for the first time, and she immediately loved the sport.
When she turned 16, her youth league pushed her to join the adult ranks, and she started bowling five nights a week. Her father died the same year, and bowling proved to be a way for her to support her mother.
"I'd go out bowling on a Friday night and come home Sunday morning with money in my pocket," Dunleavy said. "I was a teeny, tiny girl with big brown eyes, and I'd bowl for $20 per game. It's the way I made my living."
The sport has given her incredible opportunities to travel, support her family and make lifelong friendships.
"The camaraderie you have with bowlers is fantastic," Dunleavy said. "It didn't matter if you were a good or bad bowler. If you see them every day, every six months or every year, it's like it was just yesterday."
Her time in Reno also allowed her connect with some of those lifelong connections.
Her teammates this week at the NBS were by her side and supporting her when she was 16 years old.
"It's family to me," Dunleavy said. "There's something about the sport of bowling that makes friendships last forever. Bowling is community."
In her milestone appearance, Dunleavy put together sets of 526 in team, 489 in doubles and 471 in singles for a 1,486 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.