Team USA - Para Bowling
Team members for the Para Bowling World Championships were selected by the National Selection Committee from submitted applications, which were accepted from Jan. 1-31, 2026.
The committee selected Shawn Beam of Burleson, Texas; Austin Fosmire of Gainesville, Virginia; Debra Freed of Framingham, Massachusetts; Chris Helf of West Valley City, Utah; George Holscher of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Gina Jenkins of Bedford, Texas.
Beam, Freed, Holscher and Jenkins will represent the TPB8 classification while Helf and Fosmire will represent TPB9 and TPB10, respectively.
According to IBF, TPB8 wheelchair athletes must play the sport in a wheelchair and are not allowed to stand up while throwing the ball. TPB9 and TPB10 athletes, on the other hand, must stand while bowling.
TPB9 are bowing athletes without a lower limb and may have a prosthetic leg but cannot be motorized while TPB10 are bowling athletes without an upper limb and may have a prosthetic arm but cannot be motorized.
Prosthetic limbs and arms must be passive prosthetic devices that do not move on their own. They are neither body powered nor myoelectrically powered.
In simple terms, they must be non-powered prosthetic devices. Those selected to compete will receive a paid entry into the events, airfare, lodging and official uniforms.
CLICK HERE to read the press release announcing the roster selections for the 2026 IBF Para Bowling World Championships.
2022 and 2023 Para Bowling Team USA (from left): Mark Shepherd, George Holscher, Jennifer Hooten, Emma “Toodie” Perry, Stacy Sanders, Eddy Hutchens and David Nelson Jr. (not pictured - Debra Freed)
2021 Para Bowling Team USA (from left): Eddy Hutchens, Franktown, Colorado; Emma "Toodie" Perry, Bakersfield, California; Debra Freed, Framingham, Massachusetts; Shawn Beam, Burleson, Texas